 In this final e-news of the year, we’ll look back at the major milestones of 2025 on both the Glendora to Pomona and Pomona to Montclair segments, as well as invite you to learn more about the public art at the four newly-opened stations and to attend a special event taking place this Saturday, December 20 at one of those stations – Pomona North.
From all of us at the Construction Authority, we wish you a safe and joyous holiday season. See you in 2026!
Looking back over the past 12 months, 2025 was a historic year for the Foothill Gold Line. The year began with the on-time, on-budget 9-mile, four-station Glendora to Pomona project reaching substantial completion on January 3rd and culminated in the four new stations opening for passenger service on September 19th. With these stations now complete, the Construction Authority has delivered more than 34 miles of light rail and 23 of the agency’s 25-station system, bringing passenger rail back to more of the San Gabriel Valley after nearly three-quarters of a century.
Here are highlights and special moments from the past year:
January 3, 2025: Glendora to Pomona Project Reaches Substantial Completion On Time and On Budget
After five years of design and construction, the 9-mile, four-station Glendora to Pomona project segment reached substantial completion on time and on budget on January 3, 2025. This achievement came despite the project’s design and construction taking place amidst a global pandemic, record heatwaves and torrential rainstorms. With the support of the project partners and communities, the numerous challenges of the project were faced head-on by the hundreds of Construction Authority and Kiewit-Parsons staff and crew members, who logged over 2.6 million work hours while maintaining an excellent safety record.
Achieving substantial completion meant that the entire newly-constructed light rail system from Glendora to Pomona (including the stations, tracks, power system, train control system, grade crossing safety equipment, communications system, etc.) was fully functional and ready to be used as intended. After reaching this major milestone, the project was turned over to Metro for final testing and pre-revenue operations.
 Photo: Foothill Gold Line CEO Habib F. Balian at the new La Verne/Fairplex Station when project reached substantial completion on January 3, 2025
 Summer 2025: Four New Stations Dedicated
As the summer season was underway, and as Metro was conducting final testing and starting full pre-revenue operations in preparation for passenger service, more than a thousand stakeholders attended station dedication ceremonies held at the four new stations as well as a subsequent community art dedication at the Pomona North Station. Below are photos from those historic events:
    Photos: Elected officials, city staff and transportation officials dedicating new Foothill Gold Line stations in Glendora (top two) and San Dimas (bottom two)
    Photos: Elected officials, city staff and transportation officials dedicating new Foothill Gold Line stations in La Verne (top two) and Pomona (bottom two)
   Photos: (top) Pomona station artist Stephen Farley speaking with ABC 7 about his station artwork at the July 26 Community Art Dedication; (middle) Community members in attendance; (bottom) Foothill Gold Line CEO Habib F. Balian, elected officials and Pomona station artist Stephen Farley at the "Power of Pomona is People" wall
You can watch recap videos for the station dedications for Glendora and San Dimas (click here to view) and for La Verne and Pomona (click here to watch).
September 19, 2025: Metro Opens Glendora to Pomona Extension for Passenger Service
On September 19th, Metro officially began passenger service on the Glendora to Pomona extension of the Metro A Line. It was a truly historic day for the San Gabriel Valley, with passenger rail service returning to the foothills for the first time in nearly three-quarters of a century. Thousands showed up for the opening day ceremony, community events at each station and to ride the new A Line extension.
   Photos: Ceremonial first train carrying dignitaries breaks through banner as part of opening day ceremony for Glendora to Pomona extension on September 19, 2025
   Photos: (top, middle) Elected officials and transportation officials cutting ribbon as part of opening day ceremony for Glendora to Pomona extension on September 19, 2025; (bottom) Construction Authority board and staff, along with KPJV staff at the opening day ceremony
To watch a video recap of the historic opening day ceremony, click here.
  Graphics: Artist renderings of future Claremont (top) and Montclair (bottom) stations
While 2025 brought disappointment for the final Foothill Gold Line segment from Pomona to Montclair, the year ends with the Construction Authority now underway to hire the teams needed to deliver the 2.3-mile Pomona to Claremont project.
This follows the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) board of directors’ vote in September to remove local funding for the portion of the final project segment in San Bernardino County, and after the initial design-build procurement for the Pomona to Montclair segment was cancelled in March following the final bid coming in well over independent estimates.
Despite these obstacles, the Construction Authority pivoted to a new delivery method that we believe is the best approach to put available dollars to use and prioritize efficient construction, and restarted the procurement process focused on the Los Angeles County portion of the segment.
So as 2025 ends, the agency is on track to award the design/engineering contract next month and the construction manager contract in May. While the Construction Authority remains committed to completing the system to Montclair in the years ahead, the agency is looking forward to 2026 and continuing to progress the Pomona to Claremont project toward construction.
In case you missed it, the Construction Authority recently released a series of videos that highlight the stories behind the public artwork at the new stations in Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne and Pomona, featuring the artists themselves as they narrate the journey of their art.
If you haven’t already, these short videos are worth a watch. We hope you will enjoy them and come away with a deeper understanding of not only the art itself, but the pride, care and attention put in by these talented and acclaimed artists to making the art meaningful and specific to the community.
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Glendora Station Art:
“Glendora Home: A Slice of Sunshine”
By Michael Hillman
Click here or below to watch.
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San Dimas Station Art:
“A Sense of Place”
By Eugene Daub and Anne Olsen Daub
Click here or below to watch.
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La Verne/Fairplex Station Art:
“Connectivity”
By Blue McRight
Click here or below to watch.
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Pomona North Station Art:
“The Power of Pomona is People”
By Stephen Farley
Click here or below to watch.
Metro and 909 Open Market are inviting community members to a special holiday event at the Pomona North Station. To learn more about this free community event taking place from 2 PM - 10 PM this Saturday, click here.
Thank you for your continued interest in the Foothill Gold Line, and once again we wish you happy holidays.
Lisa Levy Buch, Chief Communications and Strategic Development Officer and the Public Affairs Team
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