A huge shovel for the Gold Line extension groundbreaking ceremony (Photo – metro.net)..jpg
In March 2016 Los Angeles Metro’s Gold Line Extension opened to the public. This 11.5-mile expansion to the Gold Line system (funded by Measure R) saw the route grow from its East Pasadena terminus further east to Azusa and Azusa Pacific University. This initial extension (aka “Phase 2A”) however, was only one-half of a planned two-part lengthening of the Gold Line system into San Gabriel Valley.
By Marc Corti
Metro planners had long envisioned seeing Gold Line trains traveling to the outer reaches of San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles County; ultimately servicing the busy bus and Metrolink station at Montclair in San Bernardino County.
Despite the grand vision of seeing Gold Line trains servicing western San Bernardino County (and maybe even Ontario International Airport one day) there was the pressing matter of a budget shortfall; Measure R would not be able to provide the funding required for the Gold Line Extension beyond Azusa. And when the first extension would open to Azusa in 2016, there was no guarantees that funding would be found to continue the line further east. However, even with the budget shortfall, Metro and the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority (an independent state agency) pushed forward in project planning; hoping to get all the documentation and approvals necessary to make the second phase of the extension “shovel ready” in the event funding for the project was sourced.
The project includes 26 street level crossings and 25 new or modified bridges (Photo – metro.net).
Claremont not Montclair
In November 2016, Los Angeles County voters passed (by a super majority) Measure M, which promised to provide the funding necessary to get the Gold Line to Claremont along with funding many other LA County Metro projects. Why Claremont and not Montclair? That is because Montclair is in San Bernardino County and Measure M was a funding measure for raising and spending monies within LA County. To see the Gold Line reach Montclair, San Bernardino County will have to provide the required financing for the Gold Line within San Bernardino County.
With the funding provided by Measure M, the Gold Line Extension Phase 2B was green-lit. And on December 2, 2017 the official groundbreaking ceremonies took place marking the beginning of construction.
Project Description
At 12.3 miles in length, the Gold Line Extension Phase 2B project will see the current Gold Line’s terminus extended from Azusa Pacific University/Citrus College Station further east to Claremont (and perhaps one-day Montclair). The new extension will see five new stations opened (Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona and Claremont); ultimately connecting more San Gabriel Valley communities to the rest of Los Angeles County via Metro Rail. Being built by the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority, Phase 2B of the Gold Line is planned to open for revenue service in 2027.
Quick Facts Status: Active Construction (beginning with utility relocation) Revenue Service: 2027 Location: Azusa to Claremont in the SGV Miles of New Track: 12.3 Number of New Stations: 5 (Glendora, San Dimas, Pomona & Claremont) Project Cost: $1.5 billion
What does the Gold Line Extension Phase 2B Mean for Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley residents?
Despite taking a decade to complete, Phase 2B of the Gold Line Extension promises to further connect communities, provide an alternative form a transit and help spur development along its route. Including the cities themselves who will one-day have a Gold Line station, another example of how communities will be connected is our places of higher education within the San Gabriel Valley. Starting at Azusa Pacific University & Citrus College, the new extension will connect to the University of La Verne and The Claremont Colleges – providing a means for students, faculty, employees and visitors to reach campus without needing to drive. And as we have seen near many of Metro’s stations, including the most recently added Gold Line Extension 2A stations, when a new station is built new mixed-use transit oriented development follows. This development helps revitalize an area by providing new housing, businesses, jobs and opportunities to attract visitors from all over LA County.
Gold Line Extension Phase 2B helps sew together a vast county by providing quick and reliable transit from one end of the county to the other. Before the close of the next decade, residents in Claremont will be able to visit the beach by train (either Long Beach or Santa Monica) and employees of Pasadena and downtown Los Angeles businesses who live along 2B’s route will no longer have to slog along I-210 or I-10 to reach their places of work. And with each additional mile of track, Los Angles is reshaping how it’s residents and visitors commute and socialize.
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