Community Leaders Celebrate Completion of Foothill Gold Line Track Work

Stations, electrical, and other work still underway, but the $1.6 billion 9.1-mile San Gabriel Valley rail line is more than 70 percent finished, and expected to be completed in January 2025

By Joe Linton

2:36 PM PDT on June 28, 2023

Workers hammer final ceremonial rail clip completing track work on the Foothill A/Gold Line extension. Photos by Joe Linton/Streetsblog, excepted as credited otherwise

Last Saturday, the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority hosted a ceremony to mark the completion of track work. The Authority is tasked by Metro to build the Foothill Gold Line, now renamed the A Line. The Authority is currently building the $1.6 billion 9.1-mile extension of the light rail line through the San Gabriel Valley cities of Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, and Pomona.

A further extension through Claremont to Montclair is planned, but not yet funded. That project could get a boost very soon, as, just this week, the Governor approved a budget with additional transit capital funding.

Map of future phases of Foothill Gold (A) Line. Glendora to Pomona is currently under construction, with four new stations: Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, and Pomona (see station renderings below). A further extension from Pomona to Montclair is not yet funded.

The first order of business was extension cities' mayors unveiling a track completion commemorative marker.

Officials unveil a commemorative stone marker memorializing the day's track completion event. See full marker detail at Authority Facebook post.

That was followed by enthusiastic speeches delivered by a who's who of San Gabriel Valley leadership at the city, county, state and federal officials, plus the head of Metro and of the Gold Line Authority.

Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval speaking at Saturday's milestone celebration

One fact to celebrate, announced by Claremont Mayor and Construction Authority Chair Ed Reece, is that the current construction is currently under budget.

Several speakers disparaged the line's recent name change. What was the Foothill Gold Line became the L Line (when Metro switched from colors to letters in 2020), though was near universally still referred to as the Gold Line. With the opening of the Regional Connector this month, the "L" was retired and the line is now the A Line. Some critics were concerned that a current push for state funding might be undermined by a confusing change in the name of the project.

After the speeches, two of the workers, Leo Avalos and Adan Avalos, hammered in the final ceremonial 230,630th rail clip (photo at top).

Ceremonial final rail clip and golden sledgehammer

Construction Authority CEO Habib Bailan (tan suit) and representatives from Gold Line contractor Kiewit ready to hammer in the final clip

For more information on the project and track completion event, watch the Construction Authority's recap video, or listen to SBLA's recent interview with Construction Authority CEO Habib Balian.

Foothill Gold Line Authority track construction infographic - click to enlarge

Selected Gold Line station public artwork was on display Saturday

Glendora to Pomona construction is over 71 percent completed. The authority expects finish construction by January 2025, at which point the line would be turned over to Metro for testing, with a public opening in mid to late 2025.

For the next 18 months, construction continues primarily on the four Foothill Extension stations, plus the line's communications and power features, parking, and more.

Rendering of Foothill A/Gold Line Glendora Station, which will be located between Glendora Avenue and Vermont Avenue, just south of Glendora's historic downtown

Rendering of Foothill A/Gold Line San Dimas Station, which will be located east of San Dimas Avenue, just south of Bonita Avenue

Rendering of Foothill A/Gold Line La Verne Station, which will be located just east of the intersection of Arrow Highway and E Street/Fairplex Drive, within short walk/bike distance of the University of La Verne and the Pomona Fairplex

Rendering of Foothill A/Gold Line Pomona Station, which will be located between Garey Avenue and Fulton Road, adjacent to the Pomona North Metrolink station.

Back in early April, the Construction Authority completed bridge and crossing construction on this segment, including four major rail bridges. Below are bridge construction photos from late April.

Foothill A/Gold Line bridge over Foothill Boulevard and Grand Avenue in the city of Glendora

Close up of Foothill/Grand bridge shows concrete tiles featuring an orange slice theme to commemorate the area's citrus farming heritage

Foothill A/Gold Line bridge over Lone Hill Avenue in the city of Glendora

Foothill A/Gold Line bridge over Bonita and Cataract Avenues in the city of San Dimas

Close-up of decorative flower tiles on San Dimas Foothill A/Gold Line bridge

Streetsblog’s San Gabriel Valley coverage is supported by Foothill Transit, offering car-free travel throughout the San Gabriel Valley with connections to the Gold Line Stations across the Foothills and Commuter Express lines traveling into the heart of downtown L.A. To plan your trip, visit Foothill Transit. “Foothill Transit. Going Good Places.”

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