Foothill Gold Line light-rail project from Glendora to Pomona nearing two-thirds completion
The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority has completed nearly two-thirds of the 9.1-mile, four-station Foothill Gold Line light- rail project from Glendora to Pomona. Major construction on the project began in July 2020 and despite building in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the project continues to remain on budget and on schedule to be completed in early 2025, when it will be turned over to Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) for training, pre-revenue service and determination of an opening date.
“With oversight by a great team, hard work of an excellent contractor and support from our project partners, 2022 was a successful and memorable year for the construction authority and the next segment of the Foothill Gold Line,” stated Foothill Gold Line Board Chairman and Claremont Mayor Ed Reece. “The Foothill Gold Line is now nearly two-thirds complete and the vision of making light-rail service available for more of the San Gabriel Valley is drawing ever closer.”
Construction of the light- rail project is a substantial undertaking, requiring the planning, design and construction of bridges, stations, grade crossings, the track system, the electric power system and much more through four cities and over more than nine miles. It requires careful coordination between the construction authority, the design-build team of Kiewit-Parsons, a Joint Venture (KPJV), corridor cities, partner agencies and third-party agencies.
In June 2022, the project celebrated 50 percent construction completion. Throughout 2022, the project has reached the following milestones:
- Completed the freight track relocation within the now-shared corridor to make room for new light-rail tracks
- Completed long-term reconstruction of 20 of the project’s 21 at-grade crossings
- Completed construction of 18 out the project’s 19 new or renovated bridges, including completing three of the four new light-rail bridges that cross major city streets
- Installed six of the project’s eight traction power substations that will convert power from the local utilities to the type required by the light-rail system
- Began construction on all four new light-rail stations
Looking ahead to 2023, the construction authority and KPJV anticipate completing nearly all major construction activities needed for the project, including completing the four new light-rail stations, light- rail track installation, light-rail power system, project walls and more. Testing of the light-rail system is expected to begin by the end of 2023.
In addition, in January 2023, the construction authority and LA Metro anticipate hearing back on the status of a joint application filed earlier this month to the California State Transportation Agency for the full funding grant request to complete the remaining project segment from Pomona to Montclair. At LA Metro’s December board meeting, the LA Metro Board unanimously agreed to apply for the project’s full funding need as part of a state grant program available for southern California major transit infrastructure projects, which is being funded by surplus dollars from last year’s state budget.
“I want to thank our state legislators, county supervisors, construction authority, LA Metro Board members and San Gabriel Valley cities and organizations for supporting this funding application,” stated Construction Authority CEO Habib F. Balian. “The Pomona to Montclair segment is the final segment of a 25-station system that has been underway since the early 1990s. It is shovel-ready and can be completed across county lines into San Bernardino County in five years once funding is secured.”
