 The 9.1-mile, four-station Glendora to Pomona project segment is now 88% complete. The on-budget project continues to be on schedule to reach substantial completion and turn-over to LA Metro in just six months. This past month, the project reached a major milestone when crews completed installation of the light rail power system – the final element to be completed of the new light rail system that includes the tracks, train control system and power system. Crews are now busy readying the project for train testing that’s set to commence later this month.
Additionally, earlier this month the procurement process to hire the design-build team for the 3.2-mile, two-station Pomona to Montclair project reached its next step when responses were received to the Request for Qualifications (RFQ).
Read on to learn more about current construction activities underway from Glendora to Pomona and the latest on the Pomona to Montclair segment.
Milestone Reached: Light Rail Power System Installation Completed
The new light rail system from Glendora to Pomona is comprised of three major elements: the tracks, power system and train control system. The tracks were completed last year, and in April of this year crews completed the installation of the train control system. Earlier this month, crews completed the installation of the third and final major element: the power system.
    Photos: Crews over the past few years installed OCS poles, overhead wires and traction power substations as part of the light rail power system
As seen in the photos above, over the past few years, crews have installed nearly 350 overhead catenary system (OCS) poles throughout the corridor, most of them spaced about 200 feet apart; strung miles of overhead wires across those poles that provide power to the light rail train when the train’s pantograph comes into contact with the wire (light rail trains run on electricity); and installed eight traction power substations, each spaced about a mile apart along the corridor, that provide the power for the OCS by converting AC power from the local utility into the DC power that’s used by the light rail trains.
Four New Stations
The four new light rail stations are now 77% complete overall. All station canopies have now been installed, and work continues on the station platforms and associated parking facilities. Working out of their studios and fabrication facilities, each station’s artist/artist team continues to bring their art pieces to reality, as they prepare them for installation.
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 completing work on message board signs and informational screens at future Glendora station platform
At the future Glendora station, crews are completing work on the message board signs and informational screens that will provide future riders arrival times and more, as seen in the photo above.
  Photos: (top) Future Glendora station parking facility and circular drop-off construction underway; (bottom) Crews constructing curbs for station parking facility
Just south of the future station, crews continue to construct the station parking facility, and have recently completed all underground utility work. As seen in the photos above, crews are now constructing the curbs for the future surface parking lot and circular drop-off area.
San Dimas Station
  Photos: (top) Future San Dimas station construction underway; (bottom) Crews installing architectural pavers for station platform
At the future San Dimas station, crews are now installing the architectural pavers for the standing and walking areas of the platform, as seen in the photo above. The color of the pavers is part of the overall color palette of the station platform structures (such as the canopies and roof elements), which reflect the natural colors found in the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley.
 Photo: Future San Dimas station parking facility construction underway
Across the street and west of the future San Dimas station, crews continue to construct the station parking facility. As seen in the photo above, crews are currently carrying out underground utility work throughout the site.
  Photos: (top) Anne Olsen Daub and Eugene Daub reviewing completed molds of the walking stick sculptures with Foothill Gold Line Art Manager Lesley Elwood; (bottom) Anne Olsen Daub and Eugene Daub standing with one of the walking stick sculpture molds.
At their studio, the San Dimas station artist team of Eugene Daub and Anne Olsen Daub recently completed the sculpting of clay for their “walking stick” sculptures, as seen in the photos above. The Daubs have now sent the walking sticks to a foundry for casting. Four of these eight-foot-tall, bronze sculptures will be installed at the future station platform. The walking sticks feature the history and motifs of the natural environment, architecture and character of San Dimas, and seek to evoke a sense of discovery and exploration among future riders. One of the walking sticks will feature the words “Experience the Beauty” - a phrase that was provided to Eugene and Anne as part of the community's description of San Dimas.
La Verne Station
   Photos: (top) Crews installing decorative glass panels atop east ticketing area canopy at future La Verne station; (middle) View of decorative glass panels from under canopy; (bottom) Future La Verne station construction underway
At the future La Verne station, crews recently completed the installation of the decorative roof elements atop the platform’s canopy structures. As seen in the photos above, crews have installed the decorative glass panels atop the west and east ticketing area canopies, which feature citrus-inspired patterns, as well as the diamond-shaped shingles for the main boarding canopy.
 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.
Pomona Station
  Photos: Crews installing last two ticketing area canopies at east entrance of future Pomona station
At the future Pomona station, crews recently completed the installation of the last two ticketing area canopies on the east entrance to the platform, as seen in the photos above. With this work completed, all station canopies for the Glendora to Pomona project have now been installed.
  Photos: (top) Crews installing metal roof atop main boarding canopy at future Pomona station; (bottom) West ticketing area canopy painted to its final color
In addition, crews have completed the painting of the main boarding canopy and west ticketing area canopy to their final color, as seen in the photos above, and will now carry out the same work for the two ticketing area canopies at the east entrance. With the main boarding canopy painted to its final color, crews are now installing the metal roof on top, as seen in the photo above.
 Photo: Crews reconstructing the westernmost section of the Metrolink parking lot between the future Pomona light rail station and Pomona North Metrolink station
Just south of the future station, crews continue to rebuild the existing parking area for the Pomona North Metrolink station. Crews have already completed the necessary work at the easternmost and center sections of the parking lot to allow them to reopen for use, and have now moved on to rebuilding the westernmost section. The westernmost section, including the entrance to the lot from Fulton Rd., will remain fully closed through August 2. For information on the ongoing closure and work, click here.
 Photo: Future Pomona station parking facility construction underway
Southeast of the future Pomona station, crews have now begun construction on the station parking facility. As seen in the photo above, crews are currently carrying out underground utility work throughout the site, which had been used by KPJV as a laydown area for the last few years. It is the last of the four station parking facilities on the project to be underway with construction.
Getting New Light Rail System Ready for Train Testing
With the light rail tracks, train control system and power system fully installed, the new light rail system is now nearly ready for the train testing that’s set to commence later this month. Throughout the corridor, crews are currently making final adjustments and testing all elements of the new light rail system, and completing grinding the rails of the tracks to their final shape.
 Photo: Crews completing final work on overhead wires in Glendora
As seen in the photo above, crews have been carrying out final adjustments and running tests on the miles of newly-installed overhead wires. During this testing, sections of the project’s overhead wires become electrified, with the power coming from the eight new traction power substations that have been installed about a mile apart throughout the corridor.
 Photo: Rail grinding machine in Glendora
Throughout the corridor, crews continue to grind the surface of the rails of the new light rail tracks to their final shape. As seen in the photo above, crews are utilizing a large, specialized machine to drive along the tracks throughout the entire 9.1-mile corridor. Since it generates noise and vibrations, crews continue to monitor the work to make sure noise and vibrations stay under required levels. This work is expected to be complete by the end of the month.
 Photo: Crews utilizing specialized truck to test clearances
Also ahead of the train testing, crews over the last few weeks have been using a specialized truck shown above to ensure that all clearances are ready for a light rail vehicle to enter the corridor. A light rail vehicle is expected to arrive by the end of June.
Ongoing Crossing Work and Safety Improvements
Throughout the project, crews have returned to various grade crossings to complete remaining work on the roadways, sidewalks and safety improvements.
Crews will continue to implement intermittent lane closures in Glendora at the Lone Hill Ave. crossing (click here for notice), and in Pomona at the Garey Ave. crossing (click here for notice - available in Spanish). Additionally, in Glendora, at the Elwood Ave./Foothill Blvd. intersection, there continues to be a full road closure of Elwood Ave. through July 31 to complete final intersection improvements and install new traffic signals (click here for notice).
 Photo: Crews completing work on crossing gates and signals in La Verne
Additionally, crews continue to complete final work and conduct extensive testing of the new crossing safety equipment, gate arms and signals at all 21 at-grade crossings, as seen in the photo above. This testing is to ensure the quad gates 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.
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.
Pomona to Montclair Procurement Process Underway
  Graphics: Artist renderings of future Foothill Gold Line stations in Claremont (top) and Montclair (bottom)
The approximately 15-month procurement process that began in March 2024 to hire the design-builder for the 3.2-mile, two-station Pomona to Montclair project recently reached its next step when the Construction Authority received the Statement of Qualifications (SOQs) earlier this month. As you may recall, the Construction Authority uses a two-step procurement approach – first short-listing qualified design-builder(s) and then having only those teams included on the short-list submit proposals for the work. Behind the scenes, our team is readying the Request for Proposals documents, to be released this Fall.
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 final project segment from Pomona to Montclair. 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 was expected before the end of April; but is now anticipated in July, following the current state budget process.
Once funding is secured and a design-build team hired, the shovel-ready Pomona to Montclair segment will take approximately five years to complete.
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
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