Infra Insight Blog

Expected to dramatically improve mobility in one of the more highly congested regions in Southern California, the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority (Authority) completed the Foothill Gold Line from Pasadena to Azusa on September 23, 2015.  After achieving this milestone, the Authority turned the project over to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) to complete testing and training and then operate the project.  Metro expects to announce a start date for passenger service within 30 days of turnover, and anticipates starting passenger service in spring 2016.  For additional information about the meaning of spring in the San Gabriel Valley, see Gold Line Foothill Extension to Open in Spring 2016 | Infra Insight Blog.

The five-year project, which came in on time and within budget, extends the Los Angeles-to-Pasadena light-rail line from Pasadena through Arcadia, Monrovia, Duarte, Irwindale and Azusa.  Construction was divided into three contracts.  The first contract, to build a bridge over the 210 Freeway near Santa Anita Avenue, was completed in 2012.  See Metro's Gold Line Bridge Completed On-Time and On-Budget | Infra Insight Blog.  The parking structures and lots at each station were finished in late August under a second contract.  The final contract, covering the extension to Azusa, included laying 29 miles of light-rail track, a 24-acre operations and maintenance campus in Monrovia, dozens of bridges, 14 street crossings and six stations.

The Authority has already begun work on the next phase, from Azusa to Montclair.  For further information, visit the Authority’s website at http://www.metrogoldline.org/.

The Foothill Gold Line extension is the first project to be completed using 2008’s Measure R sales tax funds.  The farthest point east on the Metro Rail system, the extension gives many more riders the opportunity to travel to various points across Southern California via the Blue, Red, Green, Gold, Purple and Expo lines, as well as the Metro Liner bus rapid transit system and the Metrolink commuter rail network.  For a map of the Metro system, please see: http://media.metro.net/riding_metro/maps/images/rail_map_future.pdf.