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July has been an historic month for the Foothill Gold Line. Earlier this month, crews utilized an unpowered light rail vehicle to complete initial clearance testing throughout the Glendora to Pomona corridor. Once approved to move forward, crews began active train testing, utilizing the light rail vehicle operated on its own power to test all elements of the new light rail system. The active train testing will continue through the end of the year, as crews continue to complete the final project elements and punch list items. Overall, the 9.1-mile, four-station Glendora to Pomona project is now nearly 90% complete. It remains on budget and on schedule to reach substantial completion and turn-over to LA Metro in just over five months.
Additionally, Governor Newsom and CalSTA this month announced the release of the SB125 funds to be used for transit capital projects statewide. LA Metro is projected to receive $1 billion of those funds, and the Metro board this month once again reaffirmed their commitment to allocate $798 million of the SB125 funds to complete the LA County portion of the final 3.2-mile, two-station Pomona to Montclair segment (that includes stations in Claremont and Montclair). Meanwhile, the procurement process to hire the design-build team for the Pomona to Montclair segment reached its next step when the Foothill Gold Line board approved short-listing the Kiewit design-build team at their July meeting, after several evaluation committees reviewed the team’s statement of qualifications submittal and deemed the team qualified on all evaluation categories.
Read on to learn more about current construction activities underway from Glendora to Pomona and the latest on the Pomona to Montclair segment.
Active Train Testing Now Underway
   Photos: Crews pulling unpowered light rail vehicle across Barranca Ave. crossing in Glendora (top) and future Pomona station (bottom) to conduct clearance testing
As seen in the photos above, crews earlier this month utilized an unpowered light rail vehicle (which was pulled by a truck) to complete initial clearance testing throughout the entire 9.1-mile Glendora to Pomona corridor. Crews moved and walked along the light rail vehicle back and forth between Glendora and Pomona to inspect and make sure that every inch of track was ready for trains to safely move through on their own power and at higher speeds. This was the first time a light rail vehicle was brought onto the project.
  Photos: Powered light rail vehicle moving across Bonita Ave./Cataract Ave. light rail bridge in San Dimas (top) and future La Verne station (bottom) during active train testing
Following the successful completion of the initial clearance testing, crews began active train testing on July 8, which will continue through December 31. Crews are now running multiple light rail vehicles that operate on their own power to test all elements of the new light rail system from Glendora to Pomona, including the tracks, train control, power, communications systems and safety features. This critical phase of construction is called systems integration testing, and ensures that all of the new systems work together as designed. As seen in the photos above and below, the first week of active train testing was carried out during the day, and now has shifted to nighttime hours most of the time to allow crews during the day to continue construction on the rest of the project. So far, active train testing has taken place between San Dimas and Pomona. It will start soon through Glendora.
NOTE: Beginning Thursday, August 1, crews will start testing the trains at their maximum speed of 55 MPH. The first day of high speed testing will take place during the daytime between San Dimas and Pomona, and then continue during the nighttime hours afterwards.
  Photos: Active train testing underway at night in La Verne
Stay Safe, Be Alert
During active train testing, it is important that residents, commuters and pedestrians be aware and alert and to follow all safety rules near the train tracks. Important activities and rules to be aware of:
- Crossing gate arms will drop throughout the work shift when testing is taking place.
- Vehicular and pedestrian traffic will be stopped when gates are down; and resume as normal once gate arms are raised.
- Never walk on the train tracks.
- Never go around the lowered gates and follow all safety instructions.
- Obey all warning signs and watch for trains from both directions.
For more information on the active train testing and safety precautions, click here for the construction notice.
Four New Stations
The four new light rail stations are nearly 80% 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 working on station platform
At the future Glendora station, crews are currently carrying out work on and around the station platform. As seen in the photo above, crews are preparing the platform edges for the installation of the tactile pavers.
  Photos: Crews constructing retaining wall for pedestrian undercrossing at future Glendora station
Just south of the platform, progress also continues on access to the pedestrian undercrossing, which will safely allow future passengers access to the station platform from the east and south by walking under the freight track and eastbound light rail track. As seen in the photos above, crews are constructing the retaining wall for the walkway to the undercrossing from the east end of the station.
 Photo: Future Glendora station parking facility construction underway
Crews also continue to construct the station parking facility that’s south of the platform and pedestrian undercrossing. As seen in the photos above, crews are 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; (middle, bottom) Crews installing architectural pavers on station platform
At the future San Dimas station, crews are nearing completion on the installation of the architectural pavers for the standing and walking areas of the platform, as seen in the photos 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: Crews installing emergency telephone system at future San Dimas station
As seen in the photo above, crews also recently installed the emergency telephone system on the station platform. These emergency telephone systems will be installed at all four stations, and allow quick communications to first responders in the event of an emergency.
 Photo: Future San Dimas station parking facility construction underway
Across the street and west of the future station, crews continue to construct the station parking facility. As seen in the photo above, crews recently completed all underground utility work and are now constructing the curbs throughout the future surface lot.
La Verne Station
  Photos: (top) Future La Verne station construction underway; (bottom) Crews installing message board signs and informational screens on station platform
At the future La Verne station, crews continue to carry out work on the station platform. As seen in the photo above, crews are installing the message board signs and informational screens that will provide future riders arrival times and more.
  Photos: Crews installing platform lighting (top) and tactile pavers (bottom) at future La Verne station platform
In addition, crews are also now installing the platform lighting and tactile pavers throughout the station platform, as seen in the photos above. The tactile pavers will provide visual and tactile warnings to future riders as they approach the edge of the station platform.
 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.
  Photos: La Verne station artist Blue McRight inspecting art sculptures to be installed at future La Verne station
At an off-site location, Blue McRight, the city-selected artist for the La Verne station, had been working with a fabricator to complete a set of three ten-foot-tall sculptures that will pay homage to La Verne’s history and architecture, as well as the community’s connection to water and agriculture, as seen in the photos above. These sculptures will be installed within the plaza area adjacent to the future La Verne station.
Pomona Station
   Photos: (top) Crews installing metal roof atop main boarding canopy at future Pomona station; (middle) West ticketing area canopy painted to its final color; (bottom) Crews painting east ticketing area canopy to its final color
At the future Pomona station, crews continue to complete the remaining work on the station canopies that were installed last month. As seen in the photos above, crews have completed painting all but one of the canopies to their final color, and continue to install the metal roof atop the main boarding canopy. When the metal roof is installed, crews will install the diamond-shaped shingles to complete the roof work for the main boarding canopy. At the ticketing area canopies at the west and east entrances to the station, crews will soon install the decorative glass panels with citrus-inspired patterns on top.
 Photo: Crews constructing walkway at west entrance to future Pomona station
In addition, crews are also constructing the walkway to the west entrance to the future station, 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 are now 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 continue to construct the station parking facility. As seen in the photo above, crews are currently carrying out underground utility work throughout the site.
Ongoing Crossing Work and Safety Improvements
 Photo: Crews working at the intersection of Fulton Rd./Arrow Hwy. in La Verne/Pomona
Throughout the project, crews continue to return to various grade crossings and intersections 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, here are other activities taking place:
- In Glendora, crews this week have fully closed the westbound lanes of Auto Centre Dr. between Lone Hill Ave. and the 57 Freeway to repave the roadway (click here for notice), and 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).
- In La Verne/Pomona, at the Fulton Rd./Arrow Hwy. intersection, crews have closed the sidewalks and shoulders through August 31 to install new traffic signals and new sidewalks, curb, gutter and ADA ramps (click here for notice).
- In Pomona, at the Garey Ave./Grevillia Ave. intersection between Bonita Ave. and Arrow Hwy., crews are implementing intermittent lane closures through December 31 to complete work on the roadway, sidewalks and median (click here for notice).
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.
On July 8, Governor Newsom and CalSTA, 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, announced the release of these funds. LA Metro is projected to receive $1 billion of SB125 funds over three years. This month, the LA Metro board reaffirmed their commitment to allocate $798 million of the funds to complete the LA County portion of the final 3.2-mile, two-station Pomona to Montclair. For more, see the coverage in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (may require subscription) and Claremont Courier.
Meanwhile, 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 Foothill Gold Line board approved short-listing the Kiewit design-build team at their July meeting, after several evaluation committees reviewed the team’s statement of qualifications submittal and deemed the team qualified on all evaluation categories. Behind the scenes, our team is readying the Request for Proposals documents, to be released this Fall. For more, see the coverage in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune/Inland Valley Daily Bulletin (may require subscription).
Once funding is fully in place and a design-build team hired, the shovel-ready Pomona to Montclair segment will take approximately five years to complete.
Foothill Gold Line Booths at Community Events This Saturday
 Photo: Foothill Gold Line booth at past community events
Foothill Gold Line and KPJV staff will be hosting information booths this Saturday at community events in Pasadena and San Dimas. Stop by our booths to ask staff questions and learn more about the Foothill Gold Line. See below for more information on the events.
Assemblymember Chris Holden’s 25th Annual Community Resource Fair and Block Party
 WHEN: Saturday, August 3 - 11 AM to 3 PM
WHERE: 500 Block of East Jackson St., Pasadena, CA 91104
Click here for more information.
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San Dimas 64th City Birthday
 WHEN: Saturday, August 3 - 5 PM to 9 PM
WHERE: Civic Center Park
245 East Bonita Ave., San Dimas, CA 91773
Click here for more information.
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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