Foothill Gold Line E-News

March 2024

Glendora to Pomona Project Nine Months Away From Substantial Completion; Four New Stations and Station Art; Light Rail Power and Train Control Systems; Ongoing Crossing Work and Safety Improvements; Pomona to Montclair Project Procurement Underway; Community Events

The 9.1-mile, four-station Glendora to Pomona project segment continues to be on time and on budget to be completed and turned over to LA Metro in just about nine months. Crews are currently nearing completion on two critical elements of the light rail system ahead of this summer’s train testing phase: the power and train control systems. As part of that effort, extensive testing of the newly-installed crossing safety equipment is now underway at the project’s 21 at-grade crossings. Meanwhile, progress continues on the four new stations and associated parking facilities, and each station’s dedicated artist/artist team continue to fabricate their station art pieces that will be fully installed in the months ahead.

In addition, this month the Construction Authority issued the Request for Qualifications (RFQ), the first step in the approximately 15-month procurement process to hire the design-build team for the 3.2-mile, two-station Pomona to Montclair project segment. This follows last year’s submittal by Metro of a grant application to fully fund the project in Los Angeles County through SB125 (an award announcement is expected by the end of April). Once funding is secured and a design-build team hired, the shovel-ready Pomona to Montclair segment will take approximately five years to complete.

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

The four new light rail stations are now more than two-thirds complete overall. At the future Glendora, San Dimas and La Verne stations, the platform canopies have been installed, while crews are getting ready to carry out the same work at the future Pomona station. Crews also continue work on the power, communications and train control systems at each station. 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

Photo: Crews constructing foundation for station art columns at future Glendora station

At the future Glendora station, with work on the canopies and decorative roof elements completed, crews continue to work on other areas of the station, including the plaza, pedestrian undercrossing and parking facility. As seen in the photo above, crews are currently constructing foundations in the station plaza area for the concrete art columns. Once these foundations are ready, crews will install the four remaining art column structures that were designed by Glendora station artist Michael Hillman (the first four art column structures were already installed on the platform last year and await the decorative tiles to be installed at a later date).

Photos: Crews constructing the walkway (top) and installing lights (bottom) for the pedestrian undercrossing at the future Glendora station

Progress also continues on 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 a retaining wall for the walkway to the undercrossing, as well as completing work on the lighting above the walkway ramp from the undercrossing to the station platform.

Photo: Future Glendora station parking facility construction underway

Just south of the future station and pedestrian undercrossing, crews continue to construct the station parking facility, and are currently carrying out underground utility work (see photo above).

San Dimas Station

Photos: Crews installing wires for the power and communications systems throughout the future San Dimas station

At the future San Dimas station, work has also been completed on the canopies and decorative roof elements. With that work done, crews are now installing wires for the power and communications systems (which will connect devices such as the security cameras, message board signs, informational screens for arrival times and more) throughout the station platform, as seen in the photos above.

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 (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.

Photos: Progress of “walking stick” art sculptures by San Dimas station artist team of Eugene and Anne Olsen Daub

At their studio, the San Dimas station artist team of Eugene Daub and Anne Olsen Daub continue to make progress on their “walking stick” sculptures, as seen in the photos above. Four of these eight-foot-tall, bronze sculptures will be installed at the future station platform. The walking sticks are inspired by the natural environment in San Dimas, and seek to evoke a sense of discovery and exploration among future riders.

La Verne Station

Photos: Crews installing canopy frames at the future La Verne station

As seen in the photos above, crews have now installed all three canopy structures at the platform of the future La Verne station. The main boarding canopy was installed last month, and crews last week installed the two canopies for the west and east ticketing areas of the platform. With the canopies installed, crews will soon begin painting the canopy structures to their final color before installing the decorative roof elements on top.

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 have completed most of the underground utility work throughout the site, and are now grading the surface.

Photos: (top) La Verne station artist Blue McRight reviewing station art progress; (middle) La Verne station artist Blue McRight and fabricator Mick Farrell (right); (bottom) La Verne station artist Blue McRight, Foothill Gold Line Art Manager Lesley Elwood, Foothill Gold Line Station & Architectural Design Manager Tanya Patsaouras and Foothill Gold Line CEO Habib F. Balian (left to right)

Construction Authority and KPJV staff recently joined La Verne station artist Blue McRight for a visit to a fabrication facility to check in on the progress of her station art pieces. As seen in the photos above, Blue is creating 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. Three of these sculptures will be installed throughout the future La Verne station plaza area.

Pomona Station

Photos: (top) Future Pomona station underway; (bottom) Crews fabricating canopy frame at off-site location for future Pomona station

Crews are currently preparing for the installation of the canopy structures at the future Pomona station. It is the last set of station canopies to be installed for the project. As seen in the photos above, crews are nearing completion on the fabrication of the canopy columns and frames at an off-site location. Once the canopy pieces are ready, they will be delivered to the station site for installation.

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 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, 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 Nearing Completion

Crews are now nearing completion on construction of the light rail power and train control systems. With the new tracks having already been installed last year, the light rail system is now being readied for train testing to commence this summer. The last few remaining miles of overhead and underground wires and cables for the power and train control systems are currently being installed by separate, specialized crews that coordinate extensively with one another.

Photos: Crews installing overhead wires across the OCS poles in Glendora (top) and Pomona (bottom)

As seen in the photos above, crews continue to install miles of overhead wires across the nearly 350 overhead catenary system poles that span the project corridor. 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 testing train control equipment in La Verne

Throughout the corridor, crews are testing the newly-installed train control equipment, as seen in the photo above. The equipment is housed in bungalows that are placed at every crossing and crossover track along the project.

Photo: Crews installing track circuits at future Glendora station

Also as part of the train control and safety systems, crews are currently installing track circuits throughout the light rail tracks, as seen in the photo above. These track circuits will detect the presence of a light rail train at certain sections of track and send a signal to the train control system, which will activate the traffic signals and gates at the crossings ahead (more on the crossing gates and signals below).

Ongoing Crossing Work and Safety Improvements

Photo: Crews utilizing lane closures to complete work on new Lone Hill Ave. light rail bridge in Glendora

Throughout the project, crews are returning to various grade crossings to complete remaining work on the bridges, roadways, sidewalks and safety improvements.

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).

Next week, crews will also carry out one-way full closures of the following grade crossings for one day only each to install freight electrical loops and conduct final paving operations:

• April 1: Full northbound closure of San Dimas Ave. crossing in San Dimas (click here for notice)
• April 2: Full northbound closure of Barranca Ave. crossing in Glendora (click here for notice)
• April 3: Full southbound closure of White Ave. crossing in La Verne (click here for notice)

Photos: Crews testing new crossing safety equipment during the night (top, middle) and day (bottom) at crossings in La Verne

In addition, crews are continuing crossing safety upgrades at each of the 21 at-grade crossings. Earlier this month, crews began conducting extensive testing of the new crossing safety equipment, gate arms and signals at crossings (north of Arrow Hwy.) between Wheeler Ave. and E St. in La Verne. 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. As seen in the photos above, crews carried out this work during the day and night. With this work completed, crews will move on to testing the grade crossings between Gladstone St. and Walnut Ave. in San Dimas, beginning April 3 (click here for notice). 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

Photos: Crews constructing relocated MOW building in Pomona

East of the Garey Ave. grade 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 work inside the building, as well as paving the surface just outside, as seen in the photos above. The original MOW building was located west of the crossing and needed to be relocated to make room for the project.

Pomona to Montclair Procurement Process Officially Underway

Graphics: Artist renderings of future Foothill Gold Line stations in Claremont (top) and Montclair (bottom)

On March 13, the Construction Authority released the Request for Qualifications (RFQ), officially kicking off the approximately 15-month procurement process to 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. The requested Statement of Qualifications are due in June, with the Construction Authority expected to announce the shortlist of proposers in July. Only those teams included on the shortlist will move on to bid on the project.

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.

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 ongoing Pomona to Montclair design-build and other procurements, click here to sign up for Contracting Opportunities Updates.

Foothill Gold Line Booths at Earth Day Events in Glendora and San Dimas

Photo: Foothill Gold Line booth at previous Glendora Earth Day event

Construction Authority and KPJV staff will be hosting information booths at community Earth Day events in Glendora and San Dimas in April. Stop by our booths to ask staff questions and learn more about the Foothill Gold Line. See below for more information on the events.

Glendora Earth Day

WHEN: Saturday, April 20 – 9 AM to 1 PM
WHERE: Finkbiner Park Bandshell Area
181 N. Cullen Ave., Glendora, CA 91741

For more information on Glendora Earth Day 2024, click here.

San Dimas Arbor & Earth Day

WHEN: Saturday, April 27 – 10 AM to 1 PM
WHERE: San Dimas Civic Center
245 E. Bonita Ave., San Dimas, CA 91773

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