The Gold Line Construction Authority began its work in 1999, and has since added 24-miles of light rail track from Los Angeles’ Union Station to Azusa – a modern day transit system that, for much of its length, shares right-of-way with an historic freight corridor.
Nineteen light rail stations are currently positioned along the Foothill corridor, serving the transit needs of an ever-growing and dynamic region. The Gold Line is now considered a reliable and sustainable transportation option for workers, students, tourists, and residents requiring access to the region’s many employment, sports, cultural, entertainment, shopping, medical and educational services.
Following the completion of Phase 2A from Pasadena to Azusa, ridership on the line surged, exceeding expectations and imposing heavy demand for parking at each transit station. The Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro), has observed that commuters residing east of Azusa and extending into the Inland Empire, rather than completing drives to their respective destinations, are choosing to park at Gold Line transit stations to complete travels to destination points.
Even before Phase 2A ridership and parking demand became apparent, Phase 2B from Glendora to Montclair promises vastly more parking, with the Montclair Tanscenter providing the largest parking field (1,600 spaces) along the entire length of the Gold Line route outside of Los Angeles’ Union Station. Preservation of Montclair’s parking capacity is central to the success of the Phase 2B extension.
Click Here for an interactive map, renderings, and site plan of the Montclair Transcenter.
More than any other station outside of Pasadena, the extension of the Gold Line to the Montclair Transcenter appears to be integral to fulfilling the promise of the Gold Line. Without Montclair, any promise of extension of the Gold Line to Ontario International Airport (ONT) appears out of reach ─ a failure that would replicate the decision by Los Angeles County more than 30-years ago to not extend rail to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) ─ a much lamented failure that is finally being fixed by extension of Green Line light rail service to the Airport Metro Connector 96th Street Transit Station, which will connect to LAX’s Central Terminal Area via an Automated People Mover operated by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA).
The station artist is Ruth Ann Anderson has selected “The Stories of Montclair” to demonstrate her art. During her research, she noted the colorful illustrations of citrus packing labels and appropriated this graphic style to tell stories of historical and present-day Montclair. As part of her overall design, the art glass for the ticket vending machine pavilion incorporates imagery of the San Bernardino Mountains, looking north from the station platform. On the Gold Line platform, the artist envisions two glass and metal framed towers, with each tower providing an illustrated historical journey about Montclair, and denoting the City as the beginning or ending of a journey for the transit rider – this theme is in keeping with Montclair’s current designation as the terminus of the Gold Line in San Bernardino County. A bronze figure of a child will sit atop the westernmost tower. The child looks west – “a reminder both of the anticipation of arrival and the optimism of embarking upon a journey.”
Montclair, like its municipal partners in Los Angeles County, eagerly awaits the outcome of the November 8 vote on Measure M. The last polling on Measure M has it passing with approximately 70 percent of the vote. However, recent opposition has emerged from southbay and gateway cities in Los Angeles County ─ opposition that could pose a threat to its passing. If Measure M fails, focus for funding of the Phase 2B Gold Line extension will shift toward federal funding through available FTA grants, including the Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Program. Montclair leaders and our federal legislative advocate stand ready to assist the Gold Line Construction Authority should this effort become necessary.
Foothill Gold Line Glendora to Montclair Project
The Foothill Gold Line from Glendora to Montclair will extend the Metro Gold Line 12.3 miles and add six (6) stations in the cities of Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona, Claremont, and Montclair. As with Pasadena to Azusa, the extension from Glendora to Montclair is planned to be built along the former Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe (ATSF) right-of-way, which was purchased by Metro in the early 1990s for the project. Once completed, a trip from Montclair to downtown Pasadena will take just over 40 minutes and further to Los Angeles will take approximately 75 minutes. Planning for the Glendora to Montclair Extension began in 2003, and significant work has been completed for the segment. The Final EIR was certified by the Construction Authority Board of Directors in March 2013, and a locally preferred alternative was selected. In March 2016, Addendum No. 3 to the Final EIR was approved, allowing for phased construction of the project if deemed necessary. Starting in 2014, the project began advanced conceptual engineering. This two-year process will advance design for the project to a point where it will be ready for a design-build procurement. Completion of the Glendora to Montclair segment of the Foothill Gold Line will cost approximately $1.2 billion (see below for funding status).
Funding Status
The majority of the $1.2 billion needed to build the Foothill Gold Line light rail extension from Glendora to Montclair will come from the Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan, a half-cent sales tax measure (Measure M) from Los Angeles County Metro that was approved by voters in the November 2016 election. Measure M includes construction funds to build the Foothill Gold Line to the county line in Claremont and fulfills Los Angeles County Metro’s commitment to complete the line as a top priority. The Foothill Gold Line is listed in the expenditure plan as one of the first projects to break ground under the ambitious Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan that includes 40 major highway and transit projects county-wide over the next four decades. The extension from Claremont to Montclair would need to be funded separately by San Bernardino County.
Please visit the Foothill Gold Line website to view updates to the Azusa to Montclair foothill extension corridor. You may also sign up for email updates to receive the latest progress reports on the construction of the Foothill Gold Line. If you would like to take a look at the most recent report, please click here
Questions about the future extension from Azusa to Montclair and/or the environmental review process should be directed to:
Lisa Levy Buch
Director of Public Affairs
Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority
(626) 305-7004
llevybuch@foothillgoldline.org
The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension has been renamed Foothill Gold Line to reflect the Pasadena/Azusa/Montclair corridor. Please visit the Foothill Gold Line website to view updates to the Glendora to Montclair foothill extension corridor. You may also sign up for email updates to receive the latest progress reports on the construction of the Foothill Gold Line.