A Line Extends Further into San Gabriel Valley

The Metro A Line light rail is expanding its service, with four new stations opening in the San Gabriel Valley. This extension brings the total length of the line to nearly 60 miles, now reaching Pomona. The new stations aim to improve public transit access for residents and students in the eastern Los Angeles County region.

New Stations Open to Public

On Friday, September 19, four new A Line stations will begin public operation. These stations are located in Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, and Pomona. This addition increases the total number of stations on the A Line to 48.

The A Line previously ran from Long Beach through downtown Los Angeles, Northeast L.A., and Pasadena, terminating in Azusa. The new stations extend the eastern segment, moving the line's end point to Pomona.

Habib Balian, the CEO of the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority, stated that this $1.5 billion extension has been anticipated for a long time. The Construction Authority oversaw the project.

"It's probably 20 years overdue," Balian told LAist. "But we're happy to bring it into fruition at this point."

The Glendora, San Dimas, and Pomona stations offer connections to the Foothill Transit bus network. Additionally, the Pomona station provides access to the San Bernardino Metrolink commuter rail service.

Increased Train Frequency and Travel Times

With the expanded line, Metro plans to increase the frequency of trains. During peak weekday hours, trains will run every 8 minutes. This is designed to accommodate more riders and reduce wait times.

During off-peak weekday and daytime weekend hours, trains will operate every 10 minutes. In the later evening hours, the frequency will be every 20 minutes.

Metro estimates that a trip from Union Station in downtown Los Angeles to the new Pomona terminus will take just over an hour. This provides a direct public transit option for many commuters and students.

Impact on Education and Major Events

The A Line extension is expected to significantly benefit students. The route from Azusa to Pomona passes near 19 college campuses. This makes public transportation a more viable option for thousands of students.

"This particular line is sometimes called the brain train," said Ed Reece, chairman of the construction authority board.

Lucas LeVieux, an urban planning student at Cal Poly Pomona, highlighted the positive impact on his university. He serves as a student representative on the university’s Alternative Transportation Committee.

"Cal Poly Pomona students are really thirsty for quality public transit on campus," LeVieux said. "Even with over 14,000 parking spots, I hear students constantly complain about parking availability — to say nothing of the congestion, cost, safety risk and environmental impact of all those cars."

LeVieux believes the extension will help Cal Poly Pomona achieve its climate and enrollment goals by reducing the reliance on personal vehicles.

Project Funding and Future Outlook

The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority, established in 1998, has managed the A Line extensions. The agency began major construction on this 9.1-mile segment in 2020. Earlier this year, the project was handed over to Metro for final testing and operation.

The $1.5 billion extension received its primary funding from Measure M. This is a half-cent sales tax approved by L.A. County voters in 2016 for transportation projects. Additional funding came from unused funds from a previous extension (Pasadena to Azusa) and state and local government contributions.

Uncertainty for Montclair Extension

The original plan for this extension included two additional stations in Claremont and Montclair. However, budget problems led to a change in 2019. The project was divided into two phases, with the first phase ending in Pomona.

"It was determined that it was more important to get the project built as far as we could," Balian explained.

The future of the extension to Montclair is uncertain. The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) announced in September that it would withdraw funding for the Montclair extension. This decision was based on concerns about rising costs, project timelines, and a lack of local control in the Construction Authority's governance.

"This decision was not made hastily," the agency stated. "It comes after nearly a decade of deliberation about the ever-escalating timelines and costs associated with the extension, coupled with the Board’s frustration over the absence of local control in decision-making."

Balian called the dispute over governance "unfortunate." He noted that the existing governing structure had worked for other cities along the route for 25 miles.