A Line’s new stations in eastern L.A. County adding riders, as increase ripples through line – San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Metro A Line light-rail riders board the train as it travels the westbound route toward Long Beach, in Glendora on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

By Steve Scauzillo

March 10, 2026

[excerpts]:

In the northern foothill portion, where the [Metro A Line] light-rail line runs roughly between Chinatown and Pomona, [Metro CEO Stephanie] Wiggins reported nearly a 13% increase in January 2026 over last January.

“Meaning, the four new stations are not only new travel markets in eastern L.A. County, they are also helping increase ridership on other parts of the A Line,” Wiggins said.

…

Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval, an L.A. Metro board member who has been waiting for the A Line to reach his city for years, noted that the Pomona North A Line Station also has a station for the San Bernardino-to-L.A. Metrolink heavy-rail passenger line. Many take Metrolink from the Inland Empire, then change to the A Line.

“Without question, people who are trying to get to work are utilizing the system,” Sandoval said on Monday. “It is faster than when they were on the 210 Freeway and traffic is backing up.”

…

One group that may be using the A Line and new stations more often are students, since the line is described by L.A. Metro as “rich in colleges.” Taking the A Line, students can reach Pasadena City College, Caltech, Citrus College, Azusa Pacific University, Cal Poly Pomona, Mt. San Antonio College, University of La Verne, Art Center College of Design and the Claremont Colleges.

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To read the interactive issue of Mobility, click here.

Below are just a few pictures from the opening day 10 years ago today:

Federal, state, county and local elected officials stopped to take a picture after the formal ribbon cutting took place on March 5, 2016.

An estimated 30,000 riders took an inaugural ride on the new line on opening day.

Each station hosted a community celebration on opening day. Above are photos from the Arcadia celebration which included appearances by Smokey Bear from the U.S. Forest Service office in Arcadia, as well as the iconic bugle call from the Santa Anita Racetrack bugler that welcomed the first train to the station.

Foothill Gold Line staff, consultants and contractors celebrating the opening.

Since the line opened on that memorable day, much has happened around each of the six stations. Despite the Covid-19 Pandemic and economic uncertainties that impacted our region, the country and the world during the first decade of the line, thousands of housing units and tens of thousands of square feet of commercial space have been built within a short walk of the six new stations. Below are photos of the stations today, along with some statistics of the growth that has taken place around each station to date, with more planned by each city in the future:

Arcadia Station

Surrounding the Arcadia Station are new mixed-use developments. Since the extension opened in 2016, more than 350 housing units and more than 50,000 square feet of commercial space have been built or are underway now.

Monrovia Station

Significant growth has taken place surrounding the Monrovia Station, where more than 1,200 housing units have been built within a short walk of the station since the opening 10 years ago.

Duarte/City of Hope Station

Since 2016, more than 630 housing units have been built adjacent to the Duarte/City of Hope Station, and City of Hope has expanded by more than 560,000 square feet – adding a new 147-room on-site hotel (bottom photo), eight-story outpatient medical building (shown rising above the campus in the background of the middle photo) and a new pavilion for medical, research and administrative purposes – all part of a 2018-approved specific plan update that allows more than 1 million square feet of new development on the campus.

Irwindale Station

While no new major land developments have yet to take place near the Irwindale Station, the city is currently reviewing a proposed specific plan that would add up to 3 million square feet of business/commercial development at the brewery site just west of the station, and has already approved a specific plan that would add nearly 2 million square feet of industrial/business and commercial development across the 210 Freeway from the station on 91.5 acres.

Azusa Downtown Station

The city of Azusa has added 290 housing units near their Downtown Station since the line opened, some directly adjacent to the station (shown in the middle picture below), as well as some a short walk from Route 66 where a new mixed-use development has been built that includes apartments, a theater, restaurant space and shops (bottom photo).

APU/Citrus College Station

In addition to the 1,250 homes built adjacent to the APU/Citrus College Station as part of the Rosedale planned community, a new 112-unit townhome project is now under construction near the station, as is an 8,250 square foot commercial project that will have outdoor dining.

We hope you have taken the opportunity to explore the new stations, view the amazing artworks created by the city-selected artists/artist teams and ride the extension to explore all that LA County has to offer over these past six months.

Here are two upcoming events taking place in March that might entice you to ride again to attend Night Markets at the Glendora and Pomona Stations:

SGV Connect 146: What’s Next for the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority

By Damien Newton

March 3, 2026

[excerpt]:

Newton:
Turning to the next extension, from Pomona to Claremont — bids came in high under the design-build model. Why change approaches?

Balian:
Design-build has served us well for two decades, but contractors are increasingly risk-averse, especially given tariffs and market uncertainty. That risk translated into higher bids. We’ve pivoted to a Construction Manager at Risk model. Parsons will complete the design to 100 percent over the next 18 months. A contractor will then review constructability and pricing, allowing us to move toward construction in early 2028 with greater cost certainty.

Newton:
Rail projects aren’t just about transportation. We’ve seen improved bus coordination and major transit-oriented development along the corridor. You recently released a report on the economic benefits of the Claremont extension.

Balian:
Yes. Development around stations in Pasadena, Monrovia, Azusa, and beyond has been significant. Cities are planning housing and mixed-use projects near stations, often years in advance. Beyond development, construction has created thousands of jobs. During operations, we project nearly $500 million in economic output within the first three years. The line also uniquely connects numerous colleges — from Pasadena City College to Azusa Pacific and the Claremont Colleges — making it an important educational corridor.

…

Balian:
Awarding the design contract is our immediate priority. We expect to select a CMAR contractor this summer and begin construction in January 2028. It’s a billion-dollar project with four bridges and significant regional impact. Cities want this line, and we’re eager to deliver it.

To listen to the full interview or read the transcript, click here.

Below are some key highlights from the report’s conclusions:

As highlighted in the report, during the seven-year design and construction phase alone (2026 to 2032), the project will generate more than $1.13 billion in economic output, support more than 4,700 jobs and produce more than $481 million in labor income. Workers will see an average annual income of $101,000. Furthermore, construction activity is estimated to generate more than $154 million in tax revenues, including more than $20 million in revenues for Los Angeles County.

In short, for every $1 million spent during the next seven years of final design and construction, the project will generate $1.6 million in total economic output for the region.

Once passenger service begins, the ongoing operations will continue to generate return on investment for the county. The report found that for every $1 million spent operating the extension, the project will generate $7.6 million in total economic output for Los Angeles County, driven by effects across the supply chain and from household spending.

Under an 8-minute headway scenario during the first three years of operations (2032 to 2034) alone, the project is estimated to generate nearly $460 million in economic output, support nearly 1,200 annual jobs and produce more than $490 million in labor income. The average annual wage for supported jobs is estimated at $137,000, which, like the average annual wage during construction, is significantly higher than the county’s median earnings. More than $123 million in total tax revenues will be generated in the first three years of operations, with Los Angeles County receiving approximately $22 million of that total. These economic benefits continue in perpetuity once passenger service is underway, and also result in even greater benefits if the line is operated at more frequent headways.

The report by Kleinhenz Economics concludes by noting that the actual economic benefits of the Pomona to Claremont Extension are likely even greater than quantified, as the study does not capture Metro A Line riders spending around the stations, the project serving as a catalyst for transit-oriented development near the rail line, the economic activity generated by residents and businesses at these new developments, and the environmental and public health benefits from reduced traffic congestion and vehicle emissions.

You can read the full report by clicking here.

You can also read media coverage in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, L.A. Business First, Progressive Railroading, Mass Transit Magazine, Metro Magazine and American Rails.

Photos: Construction Authority and Parsons staff hold kick-off meetings to begin design effort for Pomona to Claremont A Line Extension

The Construction Authority is holding kick-off meetings this week with Parsons, as they begin the design effort for the Pomona to Claremont A Line Extension. This follows last month’s award of a six-year, $60 million design and engineering services contract to the engineering firm, following a competitive procurement process that began in June 2025 and saw bids from multiple teams.

Over the next two years, Parsons will design all elements of the 2.3-mile light rail extension from its current design level of approximately 30% to “Approved for Construction” drawings. Once construction is underway, Parsons will also support the project with any needed design services over what is expected to be a four-year construction phase.

The design and engineering services contract is the first of two contracts needed to deliver the Pomona to Claremont A Line Extension using the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery method. The second contract is for the contractor.

The procurement process to hire the contractor (called the construction manager with this delivery method) reached a major milestone earlier this month with the release of the Request for Proposals (RFP), following a successful industry review period of the draft RFP that was completed late last year.

The construction manager contract is expected to be awarded this coming May, and will include an initial phase of work during project design that includes providing constructability reviews, value engineering, third party coordination and cost estimating. Once the project reaches 85%-90% design, the winning contractor will have the possibility of building the project if the team successfully negotiates a construction services contract with an acceptable price. Assuming a successful bid for the construction work, it is expected that major construction will begin in late-2027/early-2028 and take about four years to complete.

For more on the contract award, read media coverage in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Los Angeles Business Journal, Claremont Courier, La Nueva Voz, Pasadena Now, Mass Transit Magazine, Railway Track & Structures, Passenger Transport, Metro Magazine and Progressive Railroading.

STAY AHEAD: Sign Up for Construction Alerts

While there is limited impactful work expected in 2026, there may be early utility-related construction taking place between Pomona and Claremont. Stay ahead of construction by signing up now to receive construction alerts. Click here to sign up.

A short, 2.3-mile light-rail project from Pomona to Claremont will add $1 billion to LA County economy, report says – San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

File: Light-rail train testing tracks of the A-Line traveling across the bridge over the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Grand Avenue in Glendora. (Image courtesy of the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority)

By Steve Scauzillo

February 23, 2026

[excerpts]:

A recently released report on the 2.3-mile A (formerly Gold) Line light-rail extension from Pomona to Claremont estimates a $1.1 billion jolt to the economy of L.A. County during seven years of construction, supporting 4,760 jobs that produce $481 million in labor income.

Local, state and federal government coffers would see a combined $154.2 million in tax revenues, including $20 million going to the county.

Also, during operation of the extended line just looking at a three-year period, the economic boom would continue. Based on trains running every eight minutes, the running line extension would add $460 million to the county’s economy and $124 million in total tax revenues. That increases to $553 million and $149 million, respectively, with five-minute headways.

The eight-minute train cycle would add 1,191 jobs — slightly more if the trains ran five-minute time frames as that requires more workers.

…

“This project is more than just a rail line; it is an economic catalyst for Los Angeles County,” stated Construction Authority board chair and Claremont Vice Mayor Ed Reece in a prepared statement. “Connecting Claremont to the Metro A Line represents a transformational investment that will create thousands of high-paying jobs, generate substantial tax revenues and provide lasting economic benefits for generations to come.”

To read the full article (may require subscription), click here. To read the full economic report, click here.

Tiny Montclair embraces urban-density housing near transit and mall – Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

A construction worker walks across newly laid asphalt at The Village at Montclair, a mixed-use project that puts 350 apartments on 6 acres. It’s the densest apartment complex yet in the small city, which has embraced New Urbanism. (Photo by David Allen, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

By David Allen

February 15, 2026

[excerpt]:

Leading the way to a denser, more urban future is an unlikely city: Montclair.

The community of 37,865 is all in on New Urbanism and transit-oriented development. Since 2013, more than 1,200 apartments and condominiums have gone up within a half-mile of the city’s transit station. Another 300 are under construction.

Planning began 20 years ago for how best to capitalize on the proposed extension of the Gold Line light rail from Pasadena to Montclair, the westernmost city in San Bernardino County.

“We were probably one of the first to do anything outside of L.A.,” reflects Mike Diaz, Montclair’s community development director. “It’s close to 1,500 units taking advantage of transit-oriented planning in anticipation of the Gold Line.”

Whether the A Line, as it’s now known, will get to Montclair is an open question.

To read the full column (may require subscription), click here.

A Line train extension to Claremont gets another push forward, with contracts for design, engineering, construction – San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

A rendering of what the A Line station in Claremont would look like. (image courtesy of Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority)

By Steve Scauzillo

January 29, 2026

[excerpts]:

“This is an exciting day,” said Ed Reece, vice mayor of Claremont and the chair of the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority, after the board voted unanimously to approve a design/engineering contract for the extension costing $61 million. The contract went to Parsons Transportation Group Inc.

In addition, the board voted to send out requests for a construction contractor who will do early construction and then present the Construction Authority with a project cost estimate based on the design team’s finished work. The Construction Authority can accept the bid from the contractor, or find another construction contractor.

…

“We are keeping our fingers crossed we get the right team and it is something we can afford,” [Foothill Gold Line CEO Habib F.] Balian said of the contract request for the second contract, called the Construction-Manager-At-Risk. The at-risk in the name means the construction contractor assumes more risk than in other types of processes, such as the design-build approach used in other Construction Authority extension projects.

Balian said he would know after the design is done and the CMAR contractor submits a price in about 1½ years, but said he was optimistic. “Our estimate today shows this project is affordable based on the funds we have,” Balian said in an interview Thursday.

…

“I appreciate we are moving forward. This is a good day,” said Tim Hepburn, La Verne mayor. “This is not a train to nowhere. It is a train to Claremont, and hopefully to San Bernardino (County).”

To read the full article (may require subscription), click here.