Foothill Gold Line: E-News Update

April 29, 2024

CommunityHuman Interest

The 9.1-mile, four-station Glendora to Pomona project segment is now 85% complete, and continues to be on time and on budget to be completed and turned over to LA Metro in just eight months. As part of the ongoing progress, the project reached a major milestone this month, when crews completed installation of a critical element of the light rail system: the train control system. Meanwhile, just east of the operational APU/Citrus College station in Azusa, crews this month began work to connect the new light rail tracks from Glendora to Pomona with the existing Metro A Line, as work continues throughout the corridor and crews prepare to start testing the light rail system this coming summer.

In addition, the approximately 15-month procurement process to hire the design-build team for the 3.2-mile, two-station Pomona to Montclair project segment continues to be underway, following last month’s release of the Request for Qualifications (RFQ).

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.

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 this month, crews completed the installation of the train control system - while also nearing completion on the power system.

The newly-installed train control system is a critical safety element for the new light rail line, and is made up of equipment, underground cables, signals and sensors placed throughout the corridor that monitor train movement; provide alerts to personnel in the trains or at control centers; and control the crossing gates and signals.

As seen in the photos above, over the past year, crews have installed numerous bungalows that house the train control equipment, miles of underground cables, and signals and sensors along the tracks and crossings (to name a few major elements). Altogether, they comprise the train control system.
The completion of installation of the train control system adds to the many milestones already achieved on the project, including the completion of the 19 new or renovated bridges; reconstruction of the 21 at-grade crossings; construction of the new light rail tracks; relocation of the freight track; and acquisition of all necessary real estate.

Four New Stations

The four new light rail stations are now nearly 70% complete overall. Nearly all station canopies are now installed, while 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.

Crews have installed the four remaining art column structures at the plaza area of the future Glendora station (the first four were installed on the station platform last year). The art column structures were designed by Glendora station artist Michael Hillman, and inspired by columns found at the Gran Teatre del Liceu Opera House in Barcelona, Spain. Michael will return at a later date to install decorative tiles onto the columns.

On the station platform, crews continue to install the message board signs and informational screens that will provide future riders arrival times and more, as seen in the photo above.

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 photo above, crews recently completed the retaining wall for the walkway to the undercrossing, and are now grading the walkway.

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, as seen in the photo above.

La Verne Station:

With the canopies now fully installed at the future La Verne station, crews are painting the canopies to their final color, as seen in the photo above. Installation of the metal roof atop the main boarding canopy is also now underway. Following the completion of this work, crews will install the decorative diamond-shaped shingles as the final roof layer to complete the main boarding canopy. For the ticketing area canopies to the west and east, crews will also soon begin installing on top the glass panels that feature citrus-inspired patterns.

To the south of the future station, construction continues on the station parking facility. As seen in the photo above, crews are now grading the surface for both the future surface parking lot and station plaza area.