Metro Gold Line Ridership Reaches Historic Levels

Ridership on the Metro Gold Line light rail system has reached historic levels. Last month, more than 50,000 daily boardings took place on the system each weekday; and ridership is anticipated to grow significantly once the future six stations are completed between Glendora and Montclair.

The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority, the agency responsible for the planning, designing and building of the Gold Line light rail system, is now focused on preparing the12.3-mile Glendora to Montclair segment for construction. Future stations in the cities of Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona, Claremont and Montclair are planned to have four times the number of parking spaces built in the last segment of the line, and also amenities for bicycles, walking and bus connections.

The Glendora to Montclair extension was environmentally cleared in 2013 and reached a major milestone late last month when the Construction Authority board of directors approved the advanced conceptual engineering (ACE) draft documents. The approval brings the next segment closer to being construction ready – as early as 2017. The ACE draft documents are currently being distributed to the corridor cities, as well as key agencies, including Los Angeles County Metro, Metrolink, and the San Bernardino Associated Governments, for a 60-day review and comment period, and those comments will be integrated into a verification set for a final review next Spring.

The Construction Authority anticipates that the majority of the $1.2 billion needed to build the Glendora to Montclair segment will come from Measure M, a new transportation sales tax measure being put on the November 2016 ballot by Los Angeles County Metro. Called the “Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan,” the tax measure would fund 40 new major capital transit and highway projects, along with other mobility-related programs (see more details below), including funding the Foothill Gold Line. The Foothill Gold Line from Glendora to the county line in Claremont is one of the first projects identified in Measure M to break ground, if approved by voters this November. San Bernardino County is committed to funding the portion of the line from Claremont to Montclair.

See the latest about each future station and the artwork planned or sign up to stay updated on the Foothill Gold Line at – www.foothillgoldline.org

About Measure M, the Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan:

Measure M, brought forward by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), is an expenditure plan that would fund a wide variety of transit and highway projects; local street improvements; programs for seniors, students and the disabled and more, over the next four decades. Measure M asks voters to increase the countywide sales tax by a half-cent and continue the existing Measure R half-cent tax after it’s set to expire in 2039 until voters decide to change it.

The plan includes a host of major highway and transit projects across the county (including completing the Foothill Gold Line from Glendora to the county line) and many other programs. These include keeping fares affordable for seniors, students and the disabled; improving local streets and sidewalks; earthquake retrofitting bridges; improving freeway traffic flow; expanding the rail and bus system; enhancing bike and pedestrian connections; and keeping the system maintained and in good working condition. The measure will also provide local return funds to each city directly, to be used on transportation-related projects of their chosing. The tax measure also embraces technology and innovation to adapt as transportation evolves.

The full expenditure plan is available for public review at www.metro.net/theplan and questions can be directed to customerrelations@metro.net or 1-323-Go Metro.