Gold Line extension to Claremont to break ground in October

The Gold Line extension to Claremont will break ground this October based on a plan approved by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority Thursday.

The 11.5-mile extension will push the Gold Line light rail further east through the San Gabriel Valley with an additional five stations in Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona and Claremont.

The Metro board approved a $1.4 billion budget and initial plans to begin work with the independent Gold Line Construction Authority. It’s the first rail project funded by Measure M, the sales tax increase approved by L.A. County voters last November.

The construction authority will need to get separate funding for the final line segment to Montclair in San Bernardino County, which is outside of L.A. Metro’s jurisdiction.

The first phase of the Gold Line extension from Pasadena to Azusa opened in March last year and has added about 6,000 daily riders to the line.

The second phase will begin construction this fall and is expected to open to the public in 2027. A trip from Montclair to Pasadena will take about just over 40 minutes while riding all the way to downtown L.A. will take roughly 75 minutes.