Construction and operation of the 12-mile extension of the Foothill Gold Line light rail through the eastern San Gabriel Valley will provide a $2.6 billion economic boost to the region, according to a recent study.

The $1.5 billion, 12.3-mile extension from Glendora to Montclair in San Bernardino County is slated to break ground next month and be completed in 2026; it will include six new stations. A trip from Montclair to downtown Pasadena will take just over 40 minutes. The trip to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles will take about 75 minutes.

The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority is still in the process of selecting a general contractor; utility relocation work is set to begin next month.

The study, by Los Angeles economic consulting firm Beacon Economics, estimated that construction of the project will generate nearly 17,000 jobs, more than $2.6 billion in economic output, more than $1 billion in labor income and nearly $40 million in tax revenues for Los Angeles County.

The eventual passenger service on the line will generate an annual benefit to the county of more than $52 million in economic output, $17 million in labor income and nearly $800,000 in tax revenues, while generating 277 jobs.

The study also noted that the extension already has spurred $1 billion in private investments in residential and commercial development, including nearly 1,200 residential units near the future Montclair station alone and 1 million square feet of commercial development.

– Howard Fine