It has been a momentous month for rail-related projects in the San Gabriel Valley.
On July 8, the California State Transportation Agency announced $500 million in funding for the final 3-mile segment of the Foothill Gold Line Extension from Pomona to Montclair in San Bernardino County, with the promise of another $250 million slated to be allocated later this year. That comprises the vast majority of the project’s $878 million cost.
Just two days later, ground was broken on a key grade separation project in Montebello, allowing the main Union Pacific Railroad rail line to pass over street traffic at two points. The $220 million project is the 18th of 19 grade separations that make up the Alameda Corridor East project in the San Gabriel Valley.
The final 3-mile segment of the 12-mile extension project from Glendora to Montclair was split off from the rest of the project in 2018 after construction bids came in way over budget.
Construction began immediately on the first 9 miles from Glendora to Pomona at a cost of $1.5 billion; work is now 88% complete, with train and track testing beginning this month.
The remaining 3 miles was set aside until more funding was procured. Attempts to secure more funding for the extension failed in 2021 and last year; this year, though, the effort finally succeeded. The segment was passed over twice for funding before this month’s allocation.
“It’s been a historic week for the Foothill Gold Line,” said Habib Balian, chief executive of the Foothill Gold Line Extension Construction Authority.
On July 11, the authority’s board approved short-listing the contractor team on the first 9-mile segment – a joint venture of Omaha, Nebraska-based Kiewit Corp. and Centreville, Virginia-based Parsons Corp. – for the bidding on the final 3-mile segment. Back in 2019, when the contract was signed for the 9-mile segment, there was an option to extend the contract to cover the Pomona to Montclair segment. But that option expired with the failed 2021 funding effort, meaning the contract for the latter segment now has to go out to bid again.
A final choice of contractor is now expected early next year; construction completion is now set for 2030.
As for the Montebello grade separation project, it’s aim is to eliminate one of the more dangerous at-grade rail crossings in the San Gabriel Valley, with six collisions and three fatalities during a multi-year monitoring by the Federal Railroad Administration. About 21,700 vehicles pass through the grade crossings at Montebello Avenue and Olympic Boulevard each day, while the crossing is blocked by an average of 49 trains, including 12 Metrolink commuter trains.
The contractor on the project is Madrid-based Obrascón Huarte Lain, S.A., known by the acronym OHLA. Construction is slated to wrap up in the fall of 2027.
