 The Glendora to Pomona project segment is now 82% complete overall and just about 10 months away from substantial completion, when the Construction Authority will turn the project over to LA Metro for training and pre-revenue operations. Despite the recent rains, crews have continued to make good progress on the remaining work at the four new stations and associated parking facilities and on the light rail power and train control systems. Meanwhile, each station’s dedicated artist/artist team continue to fabricate their station art pieces that will be fully installed in the months ahead.
The Construction Authority also continues to ready the Pomona to Montclair segment for construction. This follows last year’s submittal by Metro to fully fund the project through SB125. In the coming weeks, the Construction Authority will begin the procurement process to hire the design-build team. The process is expected to take approximately 15 months.
Read on to learn more about current construction activities underway from Glendora to Pomona and the latest on our efforts to ready the Pomona to Montclair segment for construction.
Four New Stations - 67% Complete
Significant progress continues to be made on the various elements that make up the four new light rail stations, which are now 67% complete overall. Platform canopies are now installed and construction of the parking facilities underway at the future Glendora, San Dimas and La Verne stations; while crews are getting ready to carry out the same work at the future Pomona station. Work also continues on the decorative station elements, power systems and station art. All four stations will be center platform stations, with a track on each side – one for westbound trains, and one for eastbound trains – and each station’s parking facility will feature amenities for riders arriving by bike, walking, bus and drop-off.
Glendora Station
   Photos: (top) Future Glendora station construction underway; (bottom) Crews installing closed circuit cameras at future Glendora station platform
At the future Glendora station, with work on the canopies and decorative roof elements completed, crews continue to work on and around the station platform. As seen in the photos above, progress continues to be made on the station plaza area, while other crew members are currently installing closed circuit cameras throughout the station platform.
 Photo: Future Glendora station parking facility construction underway
Just south of the future station, crews continue to construct the station parking facility, and are currently carrying out underground utility work (see photo above).
San Dimas Station
  Photos: (top) Completed installation of diamond-shaped shingles atop San Dimas station boarding canopy; (bottom) View from below of glass panels at ticketing area canopy
At the future San Dimas station, crews have completed the installation of the decorative roof elements atop the canopy structures. As seen in the photos above, crews installed diamond-shaped shingles for the boarding canopy and glass panels with citrus-inspired patterns atop the ticketing area canopy.
 Photo: Crews installing underground cables through future San Dimas station
As seen in the photo above, crews are also installing underground cables for the power, train control and communications systems through the station area.
 Photo: Future San Dimas station parking facility construction underway
Across the street and west of the future station, crews have begun constructing the station parking facility (previously the site of the former San Dimas Park & Ride lot). As seen in the photo above, crews are currently installing underground conduit for the power and communications systems.
La Verne Station
  Photos: Crews installing canopy frames at the future La Verne station
As seen in the photos above, crews are nearing completion on the installation of the canopy structures at the future La Verne station. Three canopies are being erected at the station platform - one for the boarding and two canopies for the ticketing areas (west and east) of the platform. Under the ticketing canopies in the future will be the ticket vending machines, the map cases, the general information telephone, and the turnstiles and exit gates. Following the installation of the canopies, crews will paint the canopy structures to their final color before installing the decorative roof elements on top.
 Photo: Crews working on power system for future La Verne station
Elsewhere by the station platform, crews are completing work on the power system for the future station, as seen in the photo above.
 Photo: Future La Verne station parking facility construction underway
To the south of the future station, construction continues on the station parking facility. As seen in the photo above, crews are currently carrying out underground utility work throughout the site, including storm drain and water filtration systems, and power and communications systems, as well as the parking lot light foundations.
Pomona Station
  Photos: (top) Future Pomona station construction underway; (bottom) Crews installing overhead wires through the Pomona station area
At the future Pomona station, crews continue to install the overhead wires through the station area (see photos above), which will provide power to the future light rail trains traveling to and from the platform.
In addition, as seen in the first photo above, crews have constructed the foundation for the break room for future light rail train staff just west of the platform - as the future Pomona station will serve as the terminus for the line once it's in service (that is until the extension to Montclair is built).
 Photo: Crews reconstructing the center section of the Metrolink parking lot between the future Pomona light rail station and Pomona North Metrolink station
Just south of the future Pomona station, crews continue to rebuild the existing parking area for the Pomona North Metrolink station. Late last year, crews completed the necessary work at the easternmost section of the parking lot to allow it to reopen for use, and then moved on to rebuilding the center section. The center section remains fully closed during construction through April 15 (recently extended), temporarily eliminating vehicle thru traffic and creating two temporary parking areas (one on the east side of the closed section and one on the west side). Following the reopening of the center section in mid-April, crews will close the westernmost section. For information on the ongoing closure and work, click here.
Light Rail Power and Train Control Systems - 81% and 94% Complete
The new light rail system is primarily made up of three major elements: tracks, power and train control. The tracks were completely installed last year, and crews are now nearing completion on the light rail power and train control systems, which are currently 81% and 94% complete respectively. Throughout the corridor, crews continue to install miles of overhead and underground wires and cables for the power and train control systems. Each system is being constructed by separate, specialized crews that coordinate extensively with one another.
 Photo: Crews installing overhead catenary system poles through new Foothill Blvd./Grand Ave. light rail bridge in Glendora
As seen in the photo above, crews continue to install the final sets of overhead catenary system (OCS) poles for the project. When completed, nearly 350 poles will be installed from Glendora to Pomona.
 Photo: Crews installing overhead wires across the OCS poles through new San Dimas Wash light rail bridge in Glendora
At the same time, miles of overhead wires continue to be strung across these poles, as seen in the photo above. The overhead wires will provide power to the light rail trains when the train’s pantograph comes into contact with the wire (light rail trains run on electricity).
 Photo: Crews installing vehicle detection loops at Vermont Ave. crossing in Glendora
As part of the train control and safety systems, crews are currently installing vehicle detection loops at every grade crossing (see photo above). These vehicle detection loops are embedded into the roadway. When the sensors detect a vehicle in the crossing, it will prevent the exit gates of the quad gate system (more on those below) from lowering, allowing the vehicle to safely leave the grade crossing. Vehicle detection loops are connected to the train control system, which changes the motorman signal for the light rail train operator to know if the gates are fully down before proceeding through the grade crossing.
Ongoing Crossing Work and Safety Improvements
Throughout the project, crews are returning to various grade crossings to complete remaining work on the roadways, sidewalks and safety improvements.
 Photo: Crews completing work on new median at D St. crossing in La Verne
This year, crews will continue to implement intermittent lane closures in Glendora at the Elwood Ave./Foothill Blvd. intersection (click here for notice), on Route 66 between Hunters Trail and Compromise Line Rd. (click here for notice) and at the Lone Hill Ave. crossing (click here for notice); in San Dimas at the San Dimas Ave. crossing (click here for notice); and in Pomona at the Garey Ave. crossing (click here for notice - available in Spanish).
  Photo: Crews testing new crossing gate equipment in La Verne (top) and San Dimas (bottom)
In addition, crews are continuing crossing safety upgrades at each of the 21 at-grade crossings. As seen in the photos above, crews have been installing and testing the new quad gate crossing equipment and associated bungalows that will fully close off the intersection when a train is approaching to prevent vehicles and pedestrians from entering the crossing. If you haven’t already, the Construction Authority released a video earlier in the project about the quad gates and how the system is built for safety. Watch it by clicking here.
Relocated Metrolink Maintenance of Way Building
 Photo: Crews constructing relocated MOW building in Pomona
East of the Garey Ave. crossing in Pomona, crews recently completed work on the new Maintenance of Way (MOW) structure for the Metrolink system, which houses the equipment needed to maintain the Metrolink tracks. With the structure completed, crews are currently carrying out electrical work inside the building. The original MOW building was located west of the crossing and needed to be relocated to make room for the project.
To see more of these and other activities that took place this past month, click here or below to watch the latest project highlight video.
In the coming weeks, the Construction Authority will release the Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to kick off the approximately 15-month procurement process to the hire the design-build team for the final 3.2-mile, two-station project segment from Pomona to Montclair that includes the Claremont and Montclair stations.
As a reminder, in late-December 2023, Metro submitted a full funding request to CalSTA for the funding needed to complete the Los Angeles County portion of the project. CalSTA is the agency overseeing the $4 billion funding program (SB125) for transit capital projects statewide that was approved by the state legislature and governor last summer. $1 billion of the program is expected to be allocated to projects in Los Angeles County over the next few years. An official announcement by CalSTA is expected before the end of April for the first year’s allocation of the new funding.
Once funding is secured and a design-build team hired, the shovel-ready Pomona to Montclair segment will take approximately five years to complete.
To stay updated on the upcoming Pomona to Montclair design-build and other procurements, click here to sign up for Contracting Opportunities Updates.
Thank you for your continued interest in the Foothill Gold Line. We appreciate your patience as we build this important regional project.
Lisa Levy Buch, Chief Communications and Strategic Development Officer and the Public Affairs Team
|
