LA Metro Extension Adds Nine Miles of Service in Time for World Cup

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) recently celebrated the opening of the extension of the Metro A Line to the cities of Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, and Pomona. New stations will connect more communities from Pomona to Long Beach in time for major upcoming LA events, including the World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The extension adds nine miles to the current 48.5-mile Long Beach to Azusa Metro A Line and harkens back to the Pacific Electric Railway Monrovia-Glendora “Red Car” trains, which ceased operations in 1951. Today’s A Line will expand access to major colleges and universities, the Pomona Fairplex, regional parks, historic downtowns, museums, hospitals, medical centers, shopping, dining, and entertainment venues. It will also connect people living in San Bernardino County to Los Angeles County via the joint Metro/Metrolink station in Pomona.

Built by the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority and delivered on time and on budget, the $1.5 billion extension is the ninth project completed in Metro’s Twenty-Eight by ’28 initiative to enhance the region’s transit infrastructure in time for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The La Verne/Fairplex Metro A Line Station will provide direct access to the Pomona Fairplex, where cricket will be contested at the Olympic Games for the first time since 1900.

The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority began major construction in 2020. Funding for the Los Angeles County-only portion of the project was provided by Metro’s Measure R and Measure M transportation sales taxes. A major portion of the funding was also provided by the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) through its Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program.

“The Metro A Line Extension from Azusa to Pomona opens new possibilities for more than a million people in the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys, including thousands of students at colleges and universities in the area,” said Stephanie Wiggins, LA Metro CEO. “We’re reaching people who didn’t have access to our system before and making Metro better for everyone. Thank you to the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority, CalSTA, and LA County voters for making this extension a reality!”

Travel times between Los Angeles Union Station and the Glendora and Pomona stations will range from 52 to 64 minutes respectively. A similar 30-mile drive between Union Station and Pomona via the I-10 freeway, for example, could easily take an hour and a half or longer during peak commute periods.

“Despite major construction starting just weeks into the Pandemic, the project was completed on time and on budget due to the dedication and ingenuity of the Construction Authority’s team, Hill International, Kiewit-Parsons, the corridor cities, and our partners at Metro and SCRRA,” said Foothill Gold Line CEO Habib F. Balian. “With these four new stations, the Authority has now delivered 23 of the 25 planned Foothill Gold Line stations.”

Each new station includes a multimodal public parking lot with pedestrian access and approximately 300 parking spaces each. There are 1,200 combined new parking spaces available on the line. Parking lots include passenger drop-off areas for transit and rideshare users, bicycle parking facilities, and electric vehicle chargers.

“As a state senator, I was proud to carry the legislation to establish the Gold Line, and as a House member and U.S. Senator, I have been proud to help fund and expand the light rail as it evolved into the A Line,” said Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA). It’s a delight to join the community in celebrating the completion of the A Line’s extension and applaud the local activists, community leaders, and colleagues from every level of government who helped to build this important line. This extension will make it easier for Californians to travel, while boosting our local economy and improving air quality.”

“I’ve long supported this project, as it will help reduce traffic congestion, create jobs and promote environmental sustainability,” said Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA). “With a Metrolink connection in Pomona that provides access to the Inland Empire, one of the fastest growing regions in California, the possibilities are endless for making transit connections between our regions.”