Engineering phase under way for Metro Gold Line extension's second segment

The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority hosted a kick-off meeting yesterday for the engineering phase of the Azusa-to-Montclair, Calif., segment of the Metro Gold Line light-rail extension.

The 12.3-mile project will extend Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) light-rail service from the current terminus under construction in Azusa to the cities of Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona, Claremont and Montclair, Calif.

"Over the next two years, we will take this project from less than 10 percent design understanding to a point where we will be ready or a design-build procurement," said Construction Authority Chief Executive Officer Habib Balian in a press release.

At the meeting — which was attended by federal, state and local officials — a panel of project representatives presented updates on the latest station design criteria, the schedule for advanced conceptual engineering and station art development.

Earlier this year, the construction authority's board chose a local preferred alternative for the project. Since then, the authority developed the scope of work to advance design, engineering and station art planning. Advanced conceptual engineering is expected to start early next year.

The segment is part of a $1.7 billion, 24-mile extension of the Metro Gold Line. The project is planned in two segments: Pasadena to Azusa and Azusa to Montclair. The Pasadena-to-Azusa segment is fully funded by Los Angeles County's Measure R and is on schedule to be completed in September 2015, when it will be turned over to LACMTA for testing and pre-revenue service.

Measure R is funding the majority of cost for advanced conceptual engineering and environmental work necessary for the Azusa-to-Montclair segment, with San Bernardino County funding their portion of the work. Funding has not been identified for the Azusa-to-Montclair construction, but the construction authority is working with LACMTA to seek the nearly $1 billion needed to complete the Foothill Extension to Montclair.