The following excerpt appeared in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin on September 9, 2021. To read the full article (may require subscription), click here.

Hopes dashed for light-rail line extension from Pomona to Montclair – Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Work is in progress for the Gold Line construction at the future La Verne station in La Verne on Tuesday, July 13, 2021. The construction is part of the Gold Line Glendora-to-Montclair extension, but the Claremont and Montclair portions require an extra $540 million to get built. Despite pushes by state, federal and local lawmakers, the Legislature failed to pass a gap funding bill so the project must end in Pomona as of Sept. 9, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

By Steve Scauzillo

September 9, 2021

[excerpt]:

However, budget trailer bills that would have carved out money for several transportation projects — including a $540 million request to extend the L Line, formerly the Gold Line, that originates in Los Angeles — never materialized and will not by Friday, Sept. 10, the last day a bill can be passed in the state Legislature, lawmakers said.

“The Senate, Assembly and the governor’s office did not come to agreement on transportation with the clock ticking,” said state Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-La Canada Flintridge. Portantino is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

…

Assemblyman Chris Holden, D-Pasadena, who championed the effort, said he was disappointed that the three sides could not work it out but holds out hope for 2022.

“The money is still there,” Holden said Thursday. “There are still opportunities to step in and make a deal happen. The Gold Line is still in the mix.”

…

The lack of a funding bill has numerous repercussions for the 12.3-mile, $2.16 billion Glendora-to-Montclair extension, which is currently being constructed to Pomona, since higher costs prevented build-out to Montclair, creating the funding gap. However, a contract awarded to Kiewit-Parsons in 2019 included an option with a locked-in price to build to Montclair. But that option expires Oct. 7.

Since that deadline will be missed, the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority must halt construction at Pomona. If money is received next year, the Authority will send out new requests for proposals for the Pomona-to-Montclair section of the project, a process that will take 15 months to 18 months, said CEO Habib Balian.

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