Metro A Line extension adds four new Foothill Gold Line stations as $1.5bn Glendora–Pomona project completes on time

The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority has completed its $1.5 billion light rail extension from Glendora to Pomona, delivering four new Metro A Line stations to Los Angeles County’s San Gabriel Valley. The 9-mile corridor, which broke ground in July 2020, reached substantial completion in January 2025 and was officially celebrated through community-led dedication ceremonies throughout June.

While revenue service by LA Metro has not yet begun, officials anticipate a summer 2025 launch. The extension is a key milestone in the region’s broader transit transformation ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games and introduces multimodal rail access to thousands of residents, workers, and students.

How will the Metro A Line extension from Glendora to Pomona reshape regional mobility in Los Angeles County?

The light rail corridor now links the San Gabriel Valley cities of Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, and Pomona to the Metro A Line system. Each of the new stations features center platforms served by bi-directional tracks, multi-modal parking with electric vehicle charging stations, and integrated access points for buses, bicycles, and pedestrians. In addition to functionality, the stations showcase art installations commissioned from local artists to reflect the cultural identity of each host city.

The infrastructure integrates native and drought-tolerant landscaping, aligning with California’s climate resilience goals. The project also aligns with the long-term objective of reducing car dependency in suburban corridors while connecting underserved communities to the regional transit network.

Institutional observers expect the extension to dramatically improve first-mile/last-mile access to schools, offices, and cultural venues, particularly in cities where rapid transit access had been historically limited.

What government and civic stakeholders are backing the Metro A Line Glendora–Pomona extension?

Four high-profile ceremonies marked the formal dedication of each station. These events saw participation from a broad slate of elected officials, transportation executives, and community leaders. Prominent speakers included U.S. Representatives Gil Cisneros and Norma Torres, California State Senator Susan Rubio, and Los Angeles County Supervisors Hilda Solis and Kathryn Barger.

Leadership from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), including board members and senior executives, joined members of the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority board to emphasize the corridor’s generational impact on mobility and equity.

Local officials such as Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval, Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian, and La Verne Mayor Tim Hepburn emphasized the project’s regional relevance. Radio host Frank Mottek served as emcee for several ceremonies, amplifying community and media engagement across events.

Institutional sentiment toward the project has remained strongly positive, particularly given its on-time, on-budget execution despite COVID-era disruptions.

How did the Foothill Gold Line team manage project delivery through COVID-19 and climate disruptions?

The Glendora to Pomona extension began major construction during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-2020. According to Foothill Gold Line CEO Habib F. Balian, the success of the project is largely attributable to tight coordination with corridor cities and rigorous risk mitigation strategies.

In addition to pandemic-related delays, the construction teams faced extreme weather including record heat waves and torrential rainfall events. Nevertheless, the project reached substantial completion by January 3, 2025—an outcome that transportation planners and institutional investors point to as a model of capital discipline and civic coordination in infrastructure delivery.

The agency now moves forward with high credibility as it plans for the final phase to Montclair.

What intermodal connections and Olympic infrastructure goals does the extension fulfill?

One of the key value propositions of the new Metro A Line extension is the intermodal connectivity it introduces in Pomona. There, the line intersects with the Metrolink San Bernardino Line, creating a new regional transfer hub that links light rail commuters with the broader Southern California commuter rail system.

This interchange enables through-routing across multiple counties and is expected to become a key component of Metro’s Olympic transit readiness plan. The Fairplex venue in Pomona—now connected via the Metro A Line—will host cricket matches during the 2028 Olympic Games. The station’s availability is projected to reduce vehicle traffic, improve access, and enhance the visitor experience during major events.

Analysts anticipate that ridership to regional cultural institutions, downtowns, and academic campuses will rise significantly following the full opening of the extension.

What public funding measures and sustainability initiatives supported the Glendora–Pomona expansion?

The project was financed largely through Los Angeles County’s Measure M, a sales tax initiative passed by voters in 2016 to fund major transit expansions. Additional financial support came from residual Measure R allocations, as well as California greenhouse gas reduction funds, linking the initiative to broader climate policy frameworks.

This segment was the first Measure M-funded light rail project to break ground and has been designated as one of Metro’s 28 priority projects targeted for completion before the 2028 Olympic Games. Its on-budget execution provides positive signaling for the broader Metro capital program.

From a sustainability standpoint, the use of water-conserving landscaping and public EV infrastructure reflects an emphasis on environmental stewardship. Urban planning advocates point to the corridor as a model for future suburban transit integration.

What are the next steps in extending the Metro A Line from Pomona to Montclair?

The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority is now focused on the final 3.3-mile extension from Pomona to Montclair, which will add new stations in Claremont and Montclair. Once completed, this final leg will bring the Metro A Line to the San Bernardino County border, fulfilling the multi-decade vision of a light rail corridor stretching from downtown Los Angeles to the Inland Empire.

As of mid-2025, planning and pre-construction efforts are in motion, though final funding has not yet been secured. Transit authorities are optimistic that the project’s strong track record of timely delivery will help attract the remaining capital needed for groundbreaking.

Urban development watchers view the upcoming segment as pivotal to expanding cross-county commuter flows and unlocking real estate and economic development potential in the eastern edge of the LA Metro region.