MONROVIA, Calif. – At their January meeting today, Claremont Council Member Ed Reece and Glendora Mayor Mendell Thompson began a new year as Chair and Vice Chair (respectively) of the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority Board of Directors, after being unanimously reelected last month by their peers. The two local elected officials lead the agency at a critical time. The westernmost 9.1-mile, four-station project segment from Glendora to Pomona is currently more than 80 percent complete with construction; and the agency is beginning the process to hire a design-build contractor to build the final 3.2-mile, two-station project segment that includes the Claremont and Montclair stations.
“I believe this year will be an historic year for the Foothill Gold Line, and I am incredibly proud of the progress we are making,” stated Chair Reece. “We will complete construction on the four-station segment from Glendora to Pomona and be ready to turn it over to Metro the first week of 2025; by the end of this year, the Construction Authority will also be close to hiring the contractor to build the final two-station segment – bringing us one major step closer to completing the agency’s legislative mandate.”
Chair Reece and Vice Chair Thompson have both been on the board for several years. During their tenure, the project segment from Glendora to Pomona has advanced from final design into major construction. And despite being underway in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction segment remains on budget and on schedule to be completed in early-January 2025. Additionally, in 2023 the final project segment from Pomona to Montclair was named LA County’s number one priority for state funding and was included in late December 2023 for full funding as part of LA Metro’s SB125 funding request. In 2024, the Construction Authority will begin the 15-month process to hire a design-build contractor to complete the final project segment, which will connect riders to more of the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire.
“Completing this project is essential to the future of this corridor and to the region,” added Chair Reece. “It will expand mobility opportunities by providing a reliable and sustainable transit option that connects people to where they are traveling each day – reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the quality of life for our residents, workers, students and visitors. I know I speak for Vice Chair Thompson as I thank our colleagues for their continuing confidence in us and for their continuing dedication that ensures the vision of this important project is fully realized.”
The Foothill Gold Line board is made up of elected and appointed representatives from throughout the project corridor. In addition to the Chair and Vice Chair, the board currently includes Pomona Mayor and Metro Board Member Tim Sandoval, La Verne Mayor Tim Hepburn, Ontario Council Member Alan Wapner (non-voting), Pasadena Council Member Gene Masuda (non-voting), and South Pasadena representative Dan Evans (non-voting). The City of Los Angeles and Governor appointees are currently vacant.