By Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com

Spirits were high June 20 at the Pomona light rail station at 205 Santa Fe St., as officials from Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and state, county and local governments celebrated the recently completed stop along the soon to open Metro A Line light rail extension. A similar dedication ceremony was held June 21 at the La Verne/Fairplex station, 2327 Arrow Hwy.

“Today marks the third of four major milestones for the Construction Authority, days when we get to pause, reflect, and celebrate … a shared dream that began over a decade ago and today becomes real,” said Construction Authority Board Chair and Claremont City Council member Ed Reece. “Yes, there have been challenges, but with each challenge came a renewed commitment to our vision: connecting Los Angeles, the San Gabriel Valley, and the Inland Empire through a single light rail line that links us all.”

Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority Board Chair and Claremont City Council member Ed Reece at the June 20 Pomona light rail station dedication. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

“The Gold Line is proof that when we invest in transit, we invest in people, in their time, in their health and, most of all, their future,” said United States Representative Norma Torres. “This project was built on the backs of the LA County taxpayers — all of us and all of the people in this county.”

Dedications were held throughout June to celebrate completed construction of the four stations that are part of the extension. Metro will announce the A Line extension’s official opening at a later date.

Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval, a member of the Construction Authority Board since 2019, was asked if he thought this day would ever come after the yearslong project.

“You know, it depends on when you asked me,” Sandoval said with a laugh. “It was just a matter of just seeing the project through and here we are in 2025 — through a pandemic, through financial challenges — and here we are soon to open up the line from Glendora all the way to Pomona here. And that line will go all the way to Long Beach and you don’t even have to get off the train. So, [I’m] excited for it.”

The new stations are welcome additions to LA County’s ever-expanding light rail system.

“I work at [Pasadena City College] and I have been getting dropped off at the Azusa Pacific station four times a week and I’m so excited to not have to do that anymore,” said Pomona resident Craig Sheldon. “It’s going to cut my commute time down by like 20 minutes. Excited does not begin to cover how I feel about this.”

Former Claremont City Council member Sam Pedroza at the June 20 Pomona light rail station dedication. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

Another dedication for the Pomona station’s artwork will be held Saturday, July 26.

The 9.1-mile extension will connect Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne and Pomona to the existing Metro A Line. The A Line extension project broke ground in late 2017 and cost about $1.5 billion.

The extension is “the first Measure M-funded light rail project to break ground,” according to the Construction Authority. Funds from the LA County Measure M, residual monies from Measure R not used on an earlier Pasadena-to-Azusa segment, and grants from California State Transportation Authority’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program and CalRecycle helped pay for the project.

Since 2000, the Construction Authority has completed 23 stations and three major A Line projects: the Union Station to Pasadena segment in 2003, Pasadena to Azusa in 2015, and Azusa to Pomona in 2025.

(L-R) Pomona residents Jamaal Carr and Craig Sheldon at the June 20 Pomona light rail station dedication. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

A proposed 3.2-mile segment from Pomona to Montclair would include two new stations in Claremont and Montclair is still in the works. About $798 million from the state has been earmarked for construction, with an additional $80 million coming from the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority. The segment has experienced setbacks, with Construction Authority CEO Habib Balian announcing in March delays due to a contract impasse with construction and engineering firm Kiewit.

“Kiewit’s final bid was just over $994 million (54% higher than our most conservative cost estimate of $645.6 million),” according to Construction Authority Chief Communications and Strategic Development Officer Lisa Levy Buch.

The impasse prompted the authority to revisit its timeline for completion. A request for proposal for a project designer is due to go out this month, with a second request for a construction manager due out by September. Contracts are expected to be awarded by October and February 2026, respectively, with “minor construction projects” beginning by December 2026.

The new projected completion date for the Pomona to Montclair segment is June 2031.