Light Rail to Be Extended East of Los Angeles Again

The Metro Gold Line light rail line will reach Pomona, on the eastern edge of Los Angeles County, and potentially beyond, under a funding plan approved last week.

"After a tense debate, the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments Governing Board voted Thursday, Aug. 8, to give up $126 million in discretionary transportation dollars to fully fund the Gold Line foothill extension to Pomona," reports Steve Scauzillo.

The Gold Line Construction Authority will be tasked with spending the money after awarding a design-build contract this week.

"The money allows the Construction Authority to extend the 31-mile light-rail into Pomona and not stop at La Verne, as was previously agreed due to budget constraints. Also, it allows for an option to continue the line to Claremont and Montclair if additional funding is granted within two years," adds Scauzillo. The extension into those San Bernardino County cities would require another $500 million.

The plan overcame setbacks over the winter, when funding came up short for the original plan and project opponents called for the entire plan to be scrapped. "Metro pushed for the cities to use their discretionary funds to build it to Pomona," according to Scauzillo, to get the project across last week's finish line.