Montclair TRANSIT UPDATE CITY OF
Off Track Will Metro’s A Line Reach Its Planned Terminus In Our City?
JANUARY 2026
What’s Inside:
On the Cover: Artist Rendering of Montclair Transit Center A Line Station COURTESY OF FOOTHILL GOLD LINE CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY.
F or decades San Bernardino County taxpayers have invested in transit development, including a plan to bring the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (Metro) A Line (aka the Gold Line) across the County line to Montclair. Voters extended a one-half cent sales tax in 2004, and our City management has committed a significant share of time and taxpayer dollars toward developing a transit district in North Montclair. Why have we made this investment? The answer is simple: Extending the A Line into San Bernardino County will generate significant tax revenue, and improve quality of life by reducing air pollutants and expanding job access. In other words, the benefits outweigh the costs, especially for our City. In September, Montclair’s vision to further develop its transit district was abruptly undermined when the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) Board of Directors, by a vote of 15-11, made the decision to terminate plans to extend the A Line light rail system to the Montclair Transit Center. This decision counters the vote of San Bernardino County residents 21 years ago when they approved a 40-year extension to Measure I, a one-half cent sale tax for transportation and transit projects, with 8% of all Measure I revenue dedicated to transit projects. Every sales tax-related purchase made in Montclair contributes toward Measure I’s revenue earnings. The Expenditure Plan included in Measure I commits to extending light rail to the Montclair Transit Center, which is designated by state law (AB 1600) as the A Line’s eastern terminus. We have all made the investment into the arrival of Metro’s A Line in Montclair. This publication reviews the history of this development as well as the vibrant importance of both the A Line in our region and rail transportation throughout California. We invite you on this journey with us! Off the Rails: The Tale of Transit in Montclair
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Off Track:
For several decades Montclair’s city management team, with taxpayer dollars, has spearheaded the development of a vibrant community surrounding the Montclair Transit Center in anticipation of becoming the terminus of Metro’s A Line. Now, this final piece of the project is in jeopardy. Read what happened and why it matters.
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Metro’s A Line runs 57.6 miles from Long Beach to Pomona, the longest light rail line in the world, with 48 station stops. It is a vital link for commuters, but also an adventure for day- trippers. Come with us on a ride from Downtown Los Angeles’ Union Station to Pomona to discover the unique sights. Take a Ride on the A Line:
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From Los Angeles’ growing Metro system to the regional Metrolink to high-speed train development, rail transit in California is growing. Nationwide, Amtrak had its largest ridership on record in 2024. Catch up on the latest rail transit projects in California and across the nation. The Future of Rail:
Edward C. Starr City Manager City of Montclair
www.cityofmontclair.org
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The Path Forward
Proposed configuration of A Line platform and redesign of Montclair Transit Center
well as a new central downtown core that includes an expansive rambla-style boulevard — a broad avenue lined with trees, shops and cafes that would serve as a gathering place for outdoor entertainment and events. A market study conducted by a private research firm demonstrates that extension of the A Line to the Transit Center represents positive economic news for Montclair, surrounding communities and San Bernardino County. ■ For San Bernardino County, extension of the A Line would generate new and ongoing tax revenue that far exceeds the cost for constructing, maintaining and operating the A Line’s half-mile extension across the Los Angeles County border. ■ For Montclair, extension of the A Line would generate additional new development in North Montclair, including housing; commercial, office, education, and medical office spaces; restaurant and entertainment venues; and a new hotel. Montclair would also realize improved property values; increased sales and property tax revenue; access to a wider range of state and federal grants; improvements to the environment through reductions in both vehicle miles travelled and emission of pollutants. Overall, Montclair residents would realize significant quality- of-life opportunities that include inexpensive and expanded access and connectivity to jobs and centers of health, education, adventure, entertainment, culture and shopping — all for a $1.75, or less, per trip on the A Line. Neighboring cities would also realize shared benefits associated with extension of the A Line to the Montclair Transit Center. Extending the A Line into San Bernardino County would offer an array of economic and quality-of-life benefits to both residents and government agencies.
M any significant milestones were reached recently on Metro’s A Line. Four new stations opened in Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, and Pomona — the first day of passenger fare operations was Sept.19. According to Metro, Claremont and Montclair are in line for the next two A Line stations, with scheduled openings in 2031. However, the SBCTA Board of Directors vote against the extension across the San Bernardino County line puts this at risk. Over the past 21 years, Montclair’s management team has spent a lot of their time as well as City and taxpayer dollars toward developing a transit district in North Montclair and pursuing the objectives of the North Montclair Downtown Specific Plan — a form-based code that provides guidance in development of Montclair’s transit-oriented district. The housing developments residents, business operators, and visitors see near and around the Montclair Transit Center represent this extensive effort. What Is the A Line and Why Is It Important to Montclair? The A Line is a public light-rail (non-polluting, all-electric) transit system that runs 57.6 miles between the cities of Pomona and Long Beach, with 48 station stops. Passengers can board the A Line, operated by Metro, every 8 to 10 minutes at each of its station stops, from 4 a.m. to midnight each weekday, and disembark or reboard at any point along the line. During late evening hours the A Line may operate up to every 20 minutes. The A Line is the busiest rail system in Metro’s transit network, carrying over 15 million passengers in 2023, and is arguably Metro’s most successful and important rail line. The general passenger fare, per trip, is $1.75, with transfers to other systems in the Metro system included. Metro also offers the following discount programs: ■ The Life Program offers free or discounted rides to eligible low-income individuals and families. ■ The Senior TAP Pass Program offers reduced fare pricing for riders 62 and older. ■ K-12 students at participating schools can ride with a GoPass at no cost. ■ For full-time college students, Metro makes available discounted fares through the U-Pass and GoPass programs.
Why SBCTA Voted Against the Extension: The SBCTA Board’s decision centered around the following issues: 1. Structural Framework. Several Directors expressed frustration that construction and management of the Montclair extension rests with Los Angeles County agencies, including Metro and the Foothill Gold Line Extension Construction Authority (Construction Authority) — agencies that Directors argued should have no primary role in relation to building and operating the A Line one-half mile into San Bernardino County without SBCTA’s direct control and oversight. In fact, the Construction Authority is a State of California entity, not a creature of LA County, charged by the State, via AB 1600, to build the light rail system in both Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties. Further, AB 1600 also charges Metro with the duty and responsibility to operate and maintain
How the A Line Benefits Montclair: Based on the commitment by San Bernardino County voters and the continued support of the SBCTA to extend light rail to the Montclair Tran- sit Center, Montclair has also developed a Master Site Plan to develop the Transit Center parking fields into a transit village that will include (i) a multi-level 1,600± space parking structure, (ii) passenger terminal serving ground transit operators (bus services) and the Metrolink and A Line station platforms, and (iii) affordable and market rate housing, with a mix of com- mercial services. CIM Group, owners of Montclair Place, the City’s regional shopping center, in cooperation with Montclair, has also developed a specific plan (the Montclair Place District Specific Plan) designed to capitalize on, and promote transit-oriented development that includes a phased approach to introduce new retail and residential development projects onsite, as
The A Line not only achieves the need to provide low-cost transit services, its connection to communities and other rail systems is unmatched, giving the region’s residents the enviable ability to travel both far and wide to access all that Southern California offers. Extending the A Line to the Montclair Transit Center would add an additional 3.2 miles of track to the system; add station stops in Claremont and Montclair; improve transit accessibility and regional connectivity; and, for the first time, introduce a light rail station in San Bernardino County, as directed by voters in their approval of Measure I. In 2004, the voters of San Bernardino County approved a 40-year extension to Measure I, a one-half cent sale tax for transportation and transit projects, with 8% of all Measure I revenue dedicated to transit projects. Every sales tax-related purchase made in Montclair contributes toward Measure I’s revenue earnings. The Expenditure Plan included in Measure I commits to extending light rail to the Montclair Transit Center, which is designated by state law (AB 1600) as the A Line’s eastern terminus.
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County could annually expect to gain $1.4 million for every $1 million they invest in construction of the Montclair A Line extension, and $3.5 million for every $1 million they invest in operation of the line. These benefits are in addition to the jobs and labor income associated with activities both during and after construction of the A Line extension to the Montclair Transit Center. The independent market study estimates do not include the positive economic impacts for Montclair stemming from planned and anticipated transit-oriented developments in and around the future Montclair A Line station. Montclair anticipates that a separate economic analysis related to future development projects in Montclair will be completed soon. Parallel running of the A Line and Metrolink systems between Pomona and Montclair has also been identified as an advantage because Metrolink will absorb A Line ridership demand that exceeds passenger capacity. The A Line currently operates at capacity, and Metro has determined that the A Line must add additional train cars or increase operating headways from 8 minutes to every 5 minutes in order to meet growth in ridership demand. The four new A Line stations in Glendora, La Verne, San Dimas and Pomona, alone, are projected to add 11,400 additional riders each day; Claremont and Montclair stations are projected to add 7,800 additional daily riders. Growth in A Line ridership demand necessitates a combination of solutions that include additional A Line train cars, improved headways, and parallel operations between Metrolink and the A Line from Pomona to the Montclair Transit Center — the only transit station outside of Union Station that has Continue Path on Page 8
4. Parallel Running of Metrolink and A Line from Pomona to Montclair.
each segment of the A Line as they are completed by the Construction Authority; and provides that the Construction Authority shall enter into cooperative construction and funding agreements with respective governing agencies. Extension of Southern California’s expansive rail network across political borders always requires the commitment of private companies and State and local governing agencies working together to achieve inter-agency cooperation to see projects through to completion. 2. Construction Authority Board Representation. Directors objected to the lack of a voting seat for SBCTA on the Construction Authority’s Board of Directors. In fact, in 2018, Montclair sponsored a bill, AB 2417 (2018) , authored by Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez, that would introduce a change to membership on the Construction Authority Board by granting Montclair a voting seat, thus giving San Bernardino County two out of six voting seats — one voting seat is currently held by the City of Ontario. SBCTA stated opposition to the bill unless it was amended to give the agency its own voting seat. However, at that time, State legislators were unwilling to support legislation granting three voting seats to San Bernardino County when it was then unclear when the light rail system would be extended into San Bernardino County. During recent negotiations for a cooperative agreement to extend the A Line to the Montclair Transit Center, the Construction
Authority agreed to support legislation granting SBCTA a voting seat on the Construction Authority Board of Directors. 3. Length of Time the Project Has Been on the Books. The light rail extension to Montclair has been an SBCTA project since at least 2004, when voters of San Bernardino County overwhelmingly approved the A Line extension to Montclair as part of Measure I’s Expenditure Plan. During the 21 years after Measure I was adopted the State, Metro, the San Gabriel Valley COG and SBCTA have been the agencies tasked with funding the light rail extension from Pasadena and, ultimately, into San Bernardino County. Concurrently, the Construction Authority has been tasked with project design and construction of the A Line extension. Over the past two decades, SBCTA had not been tasked with any work related to design or construction of the A Line extension through Los Angeles County. Now, with the Construction Authority recently completing the Glendora to Pomona Segment of the A Line, SBCTA was asked in early 2025 to become involved with various construction and funding approvals for the Montclair Segment. SBCTA staff asked for a cooperative agreement (Memorandum of Understanding) and controlling oversight for project design and construction. Ultimately, the Construction Authority and SBCTA were unable to come to terms on levels of responsibility, leading to a lack of resolution on the cooperative agreement.
Several SBCTA Directors consider extension of the A Line from Pomona to Montclair a redundancy because the Metrolink San Bernardino Line already runs between Pomona and Montclair, and that parallel running of the two rail lines would ultimately harm farebox recovery for both systems, and cost additional dollars in ongoing maintenance and operations. Metro studies demonstrate that between Claremont and Montclair, the A Line is projected to add up 7,800 additional daily boardings, and Metrolink would pick up 2,500 to 5,000 additional daily boardings. These estimates are supported by an independent market analysis demonstrating that an estimated 33,000 San Bernardino County residents who work in A Line corridor cities live in and around Montclair including in the cities of Upland, Ontario and Chino; and 24,000 Los Angeles County residents living in cities along the A Line corridor work in the Montclair area, including in the cities of Upland, Ontario and Chino. These cross-county workers represent a pool of potential riders for the A Line into and out of the Montclair Transit Center — riders who would contribute greatly to improving the farebox recovery ratio, resulting in reduced maintenance and operation costs for SBCTA, if not actually produce profitability for light rail services in San Bernardino County. The independent market analysis also demonstrates that San Bernardino
A Line train traveling through Glendora Avenue grade crossing in Glendora
A Line train at new Pomona North Station
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Union Station Waiting Room Gallery
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the size, parking capacity and ground transit services (Omnitrans, Foothill Transit, Riverside Transportation Agency, and Greyhound) capable of meeting the growing demand for regional transit services. The parallel running of transportation services is not unique. Southern California is known for its network of freeways and roadways that run in multiple and parallel directions. Ground transit services also overlap, particularly as the number of competitors increases. Further, the argument against parallel rail services loses merit when it is apparent that SBCTA does not oppose other transportation projects that operate in parallel and share the same passenger pool—for example, there appears to be no SBCTA opposition to the proposed Brightline West high-speed rail cars and ONT airline services competing to attract from the same potential passenger pool bound for Las Vegas, Nevada. 5. Funding Gap. A February 2025 bid on the Montclair Segment pushed the price tag from $93 million to somewhere between $145 million to $240 million, requiring an additional $66 million to $166 million in funding. The Construction Authority, displeased with the bid estimate, rescinded the design-build delivery method and opted, instead, to rebid under a construction management at risk delivery method that is expected to bring down the overall cost of the project. That bid is not expected to be received until February 2026. In any event, Montclair is confident that, in contributing toward the $4 billion to extend the A Line east from Union Station to Claremont, the State of California would agree to fund the additional cost to build the A Line to the Montclair Transit Center. Alternatively, Montclair would work with its transportation agency partners to secure federal funding for the project.
A Line Glendora Station
terminal in the Western United States, and is often regarded as the “Last of the Great Railway Stations” built in the U.S. The structure, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, combines Art Deco, Mission Revival, and Streamline Moderne style. Today, Union Station is Southern California’s major transportation hub, serving approximately 110,000 passengers each day — making it the busiest railroad station in the Western U.S. Union Station hosts a rotating collection of unique events, cutting-edge performances, concerts, art exhibitions, and thought-provoking cultural programming showcasing the diversity of entertainers, artists and innovators in the Los Angeles region. Journeys Continued is another Union Station exhibit that features local artists. The exhibit sees L.A. communities Through the Eyes of Artists — the exhibition focuses on neighborhoods and cities in Los A Line Union Station events include the Rare Books LA Antiquarian Book Fair ; the Annual Boonion Station! (a family friendly Halloween Haunt); THE MAZE Halloween (where you lose yourself in a labyrinth of sound, shadows, and surprise twists); LA on the Move Exhibit (brings attention to the region’s remarkable biodiversity and the role urban species play in maintaining balance; e.g., this year’s exhibit in the Waiting Room Gallery spotlights five wildlife species — the coyote, mountain lion, red-tailed hawk, monarch butterfly and California kingsnake as they navigate neighborhoods in search of food, shelter and safety).
Discovering the
A Line train at San Dimas Station
F rom its Pomona North Station to the Long Beach Station , LA Metro’s A Line is one long ride. At 57.6 miles, the A Line is the longest light rail line in the world, with a travel time of 2 hours and 11 minutes. From the Pomona North Station to Union Station in Los Angeles, the travel time is 1 hour and 6 minutes. For the estimated 33,000 residents in and around Montclair, Upland, Ontario and Chino that work in A Line-corridor cities along the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley, and the 24,000 residents living in those foothill cities that work in and around Montclair, Upland, Ontario and Chino an A Line extension to Montclair would represent a tremendous, inexpensive opportunity to commute by rail to work. For the day adventurer, however, a trip on the A Line between the Pomona North Station and Union Station offers a lot to see, do and enjoy. The trip to Long Beach, and the station stops in between, also offer many sights. Here is a day tour of adventures from Union Station to Pomona: Union Station. Use Union Station as your platform to discover the heart of Los Angeles. From here you can use Metro’s subway system to explore all that makes Los Angeles a world-class city. Union Station (800 North Alameda St.) itself offers a multitude of treats. The iconic 1930 landmark serves as a vibrant symbol of the downtown area. Conceived on a “grand scale,” Union Station is the largest railroad passenger
THE PATH FORWARD While it appears that SBCTA’s vote is terminal, Montclair will continue to work toward solutions that bring A Line light rail services to the Montclair Transit Center. The SBCTA Board of Directors’ vote does, however, most certainly delay progress for construction of the A Line to the Montclair Transit Center to a date outside the current procurement effort to extend the A Line from Pomona to Claremont. The delay will also make the extension from Claremont to Montclair a standalone project, resulting in significantly higher costs should the extension proceed to the Montclair Transit Center at a future date. Take Action: Residents are encouraged to contact their State representatives to express their concerns and opinions on the extension of the A Line light rail to the Montclair Transit Center. 53rd Assembly District Assemblymember Michelle Rodriguez District Office: 13160 7th St. Chino, CA 91710 Phone: (909) 902-9606 22nd Senate District Senator Susan Rubio District Office: 1520E N. Mountain Ave. Building E, Suite 201 Ontario, CA 91762 Phone: (909) 460-6064
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Colonial, Latino and Western American art and artifacts. Most of the collections were moved off-site by the Autry Museum of the American West (4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles) where they are on display or in storage. The stop is still worth a quick stop, stroll and stretch. Highland Park Station. If you appreciate underground and local music, head to Mount Analog (2217 Hyperion Ave.) a Highland Park store stocked with techno, industrial, experimental and other styles of music that can be hard to find. South Pasadena Station.
Little Jewel of New Orleans (207 Ord St.) a market/deli for great sandwiches. In the 1930s, the design and operational concepts for Chinatown evolved through a collective community process. The neighborhood saw major development, especially as a tourist attraction, with development of the “Central Plaza,” a Hollywoodized version of Shanghai, containing names such as Bamboo Lane, Gin Ling Way and Chung King Road. Chinatown was designed by Hollywood set designers, and movie props were donated to give Chinatown an exotic atmosphere. Fong’s is a Chinatown institution located in the Best Western Plaza. The
Angeles County). Local artists capture the look and feel of each community featured, highlighting special and surprising or lesser-known facets of their subject community. The artworks are part of an award-winning series presented originally as posters of communities served by Metro. The artwork series started in 2003, rotates year-to-year, and is on exhibit in the Union Station Passageway . The full online gallery can be viewed on the Metro Art website . Around Union Station, you will
Rose Bowl shuttle map
The A Line’s South Pasadena stop will let you off in a charming village where you’ll want to take lots of photos, walk around, relax and enjoy refreshments. This walkable, family-friendly destination looks like a quaint small town with antique shops, a used bookstore, toy shop and a variety of bakeries and restaurants. Visit the Fremont Centre Theatre For Performing Arts , located at 1000 Fremont Ave.; the South Pasadena Historical Museum – The Museums of the Arroyo , located at 913 Meridian Ave. in an 1887 structure housing a permanent collection of artifacts from the early history of Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley; or the Pasadena Museum of History , located at 1470 W. Walnut St., dedicated to preserving and sharing Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley history, art and culture. Del Mar Station. If pub crawling is your joy, then take the A Line to Del Mar Station. You need only walk mere steps from the train to hit your first destination, Stone Brewing Tap Room (220 S. Raymond Ave., Suite 103). Others on your list may include Congregation Brewery & Cocina, The Dungeon, The Blind Donkey, 10 ¼ Pasadena, Behind Bars and the Speak Easy. The Del Mar Station is one of two drop-off points (the other is Memorial Park) for the Rose Bowl Stadium (1001 Rose Bowl Dr.). The Rose Bowl is famous for a number of events including the Tournament of Roses - Rose Bowl Game every January 1, the famous Rose Bowl Flea Market on the second Sunday of each month, and dozens of other events including tours of the stadium, drone shows, concerts and sporting events. From the Del Mar Station, Pasadena Transit operates Line 51 directly to the Rose Bowl, Monday through Friday, departing every two hours from Raymond Avenue & Del Mar Boulevard and arriving 10 minutes later at Seco Street & Rosemont Avenue. Memorial Park Station. Heading to Colorado Boulevard for shopping or the Rose Parade, or the Pasadena Convention Center? Exit Memorial Park Station. For a list of events in Pasadena, go to Visit Pasadena . The Pasadena Convention Center (300 E. Green St.) overflows with a variety of special events, particularly for the holiday season. Other convention events include Monsterpalooza and ScareLA (for the fear in each of us), Pacific Media Expo (Asian Pop Culture), and Groom Expo West (dog grooming). Old Pasadena probably provides one of the best day experiences in Southern California. This highly walkable district in the heart of Pasadena is chock full of shopping and dining opportunities for everyone. The Old Pasadena website provides lists of which retailers and food establishments
discover historic buildings and a host of food and entertainment options, including the Dodger Stadium Express (visit Dodger Stadium Express - LA Metro for information on getting to Dodger Stadium via Metro).
Marina del Rey through the eyes of artist Lindsay Carron is part of the Journeys Continued collection
Rose Bowl Stadium
store is tiny, but packed with an eclectic selection of goods, jewelry, and books. Take a visit to the Chinatown Swap Meet (800 N. Broadway) or dine in some of the best Chinese restaurants in Los Angeles, such as Yang Chow (819 N. Broadway) and CBS Seafood (700 N. Spring St.) . Phoenix Bakery (969 N. Broadway) is known for their Sugar Butterflies and other sweet treats. Chinatown also hosts Howlin’ Ray’s (727 N. Broadway) famous for Nashville-style chicken sandwiches. Lincoln/Cypress Station. Chilling with friends? Head to Footsie’s to hear DJs specializing in everything from soul to metal. Before or after, stop by Taqueria El Atacor # 11 (262 N. Figueroa St., Cypress Park) just a few doors down, for potato tacos. Heritage Square Station. Tour the Victorian houses at Heritage Square Museum (3800 Homer St., Montecito Heights). Described as a “living history museum,” Heritage Square is a collection of restored buildings culled from various L.A. neighborhoods and arranged to form a tiny neighborhood that gives visitors insight into the past. If you’re into Victorian-era art and culture, this is a must-visit spot. Heritage Square hosts occasional exhibitions and has a variety of annual events, ranging from fashion shows to movie screenings. Southwest Museum Station. The Southwest Museum (234 Museum Dr.) permanently closed its doors in 2022. The Museum hosted an extensive collection of pre-Hispanic, Spanish
are where throughout the district. There’s a pedestrian walkway built above the A Line tunnel, which goes straight down to Colorado Boulevard. And don’t forget Pasadena’s Norton Simon Museum (411 West Colorado Blvd.) that houses one of the best collections of visual art in the Los Angeles area. The museum’s permanent collections feature a slew of art and sculpture from Southeast Asia as well as European art dating back to the 14th century. Of special mention is the Norton Simon’s Edgar Degas collection. The collection has more than 100 works by Degas, second only to the Met in New York City. You can also access the Rose Bowl Stadium from the Memorial Park Station. From the station, take Holly Street and make a right, walk 2 blocks to Fair Oaks Avenue, and cross Fair Oaks Avenue to board the Rose Bowl shuttle bus in the Parson Parking Lot B. Shuttles run every 5 to 7 minutes Head to Vroman’s Bookstore (695 E. Colorado Blvd.) – the largest and oldest independent bookstore and newsstand in Los Angeles. Vroman’s frequently hosts authors on tour for conversations and book-signing events. As California’s official state theatre, the Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Ave.) brings a number of quality productions to the area each year. The theatre, which was established in 1917, is rich in Art Deco styling. Information on the theatre’s mainstage productions may be found on the Playhouse’s website . Allen Station. Head toward Pasadena City College (1570 E. Colorado Blvd.) and stop by Jameson Brown Coffee Roasters (260 N. Allen Ave.) for a rich cup of coffee. Jameson Brown Coffee Brewer offers the standard coffee-house drinks as well as a few more unusual concoctions, like the Snowball (white chocolate and coconut) and the Vienna Latte (honey and cinnamon). each weekday. Lake Station. While at Pasadena City College, visit the monthly Pasadena City College Flea Market . There are other occasional public events as well, including art exhibitions, concerts and plays. Check PCC’s site for a full calendar.
Just across from Union Station is Olvera Street - The Birthplace of Los Angeles , a colorful marketplace with food, shops, entertainment , and some of LA’s most historic buildings along a tree-shaded, brick-lined walkway. Olvera Street also hosts a number of small kiosk-type shops and restaurants brimming with souvenirs and cultural food experiences. Olvera Street also hosts numerous traditional events throughout the year, including the Blessing of the Animals (Saturday before Easter), Cinco de Mayo, Fiestas Patrias (Mexican Independence Day), Dia de los Muertos, and Las Posadas. Before departing Union Station, stop by Philippe the Original (1001 N. Alameda St.) - home to a delicious French Dip sandwich . Philippe’s competes with the similarly historic Cole’s French Dip (118 East 6th St.) for the claim to be the originator of the French Dip sandwich; although history generally gives Cole’s the nod. Chinatown Station. The Chinatown Station stop offers adventures for Little Italy as well as Chinatown. In the early 20th century, Italian immigrants settled in the area north of the Old Plaza , now a 44-acre park area designated a state historic monument in 1953 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Many Italian immigrants built businesses, including the San Antonio Winery , located at 737 Lamar St. The Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (644 North Main St.) and the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument (125 Paseo de la Plaza) are also available for exploration. Venture into The
The Italian American Museum of Los Angeles
Dodger Stadium
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El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument
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California’s Rail Future
From Discovering on Page 11
producing substantial environmental and mobility benefits by diverting an estimated 17,400 daily riders from the roadways by 2035, eliminating roughly 69,050 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually and reducing average travel time by approximately 13 minutes per daily trip. In 2019, Metro began the process of updating its color lines to letters (See Map, below.) Letters are assigned in the order of each line’s original opening date; e.g., the Blue Line was Metro’s first rail line to open in 1990 and, thus, became the A Line. Metro Regional Rail Line Map ● A Line. The A Line (Blue Dot) is a light-rail line linking Downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Pomona. At 56 miles with 48 stations, it is the longest light-rail line in the world. The route runs mostly at street level, with some elevated and underground sections. Montclair is the designated eastern terminus of the A Line. metro.net pacificsurfliner.com metrolinktrains.com
to a local band. For something more substantial, head to Max’s Mexican Cuisine , located at 6 635 N. Azusa Ave., with locations also in Monrovia and San Dimas. You can also visit Durrell House Museum, located at 729 N. Dalton Ave., a craftsman home that now operates as a museum. APU/Citrus College Station. This is your stop for the Haugh Performing Arts Center (1000 W. Foothill Blvd.) at Citrus College. It is also your stop for Azusa Pacific University, the top Christian College in Southern California (901 E. Alosta Ave.).
Sierra Madre Villa Station. If you’re up for a walk, exit
the Sierra Madre Villa station and head toward the old, less chic end of Colorado Boulevard. It’s a mile trek, but along the way you will find Poo-Bah’s Records, a model train shop and other independently minded stores. MeowMeowz Retro 80s Thrift Shop (2423 E. Colorado Blvd.), an underground-centric rock store and secondhand clothing shop packed with everything you would need to dress up for a night at the spookiest parties in town. Arcadia Station.
Metro & Regional Rail
Readers of the Montclair City Manager’s Monthly are aware that City officials continue to work toward developing a transit-oriented district in North Montclair that retains a vision for arrival of the A Line light rail system (formerly the Gold Line) at the Montclair Transit Center. The A Line, operated by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), is one of the many recent and ongoing rail transit projects that are shaping the expanding and dynamic nature of California’s rail infrastructure, particularly for Southern California — the nation’s center COUNTY SAN LUIS OBISPO Palmdale Lancaster Grover Beach San Luis Obispo Antelope Valley Line Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
Thoroughbred horses race at Santa Anita Park
Glendora Station. Hungry for sweets, the station is served by Foothill Transit and Glendora Shuttle for a trip to Donut Man , best known for its iconic fresh fruit donuts, particularly the Fresh Strawberry Donut. The Donut Man is located at 915 E. Route 66. After a fresh donut, visit Rubel Castle , 844 N Live Oak Ave., a monument to folk architecture, built by hand by Michael Rubel over several decades. San Dimas Station. Start your day at Rail Side Cafe and if you have all day ahead of you to spend in San Dimas, there is always Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park and Raging Waters. La Verne and Pomona North Stations. Accessible from both stations, the Fairplex , 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, is a premier entertainment center hosting events like the L.A. County Fair, the NHRA In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip , Oktoberfest at Fairplex , LIGHTS OUT at Fairplex Halloween Horror Attraction and many other events and attractions . Fairplex will also serve as a venue for the 2028 Olympics, setting the stage for the return of cricket to the Olympic Games for the first time since 1900, when only two countries participated. Cricket is a hugely popular international sport, with an estimated 2.5 billion followers worldwide. Collectively Pasadena, Azusa, San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona and the future A Line Station city, Claremont, host a large number of universities and colleges. In the narrow band of A Line corridor cities between Union Station and Claremont, there are an estimated 19 institutions of higher education — more than perhaps in any other location in the world. Together, they attribute to the A Line’s unofficial moniker, the “Brain Train”. Keep in mind that the A Line just touches the rich heritage of the Los Angeles region. What it does do, however, is make it easy to reach a number of places of interest that offer the day adventure reward and opportunity. Bringing the A Line to the Montclair Transit Center in San Bernardino County is essential to allowing residents of both counties to learn from each other, and enjoy the experiences and adventures each county offers. See map of Metro’s current transit system, on the next page, showing the proposed A Line extension to Claremont and Montclair as a dashed line.
What else, head to thoroughbred horse racing at Santa Anita Park (285 W. Huntington Dr.). On race days, there is a free shuttle that will cart you to the track. In addition, there’s also the Arcadia Transit Shuttle, offering daily lifts from the A Line to the park as well as the L. A. County Arboretum (301 N. Baldwin Ave.) and Santa Anita Mall. After a day at the races, visit Din Tai Fung – a Taiwanese steamed dumpling and noodle restaurant which has food critics and customers raving about the dumplings. The restaurant is located at the Shops at Santa Anita, 400 S. Baldwin Ave., #M5. Monrovia Station. Head to Old Town - a small-town stretch of Myrtle Avenue, home to Resistor Records (511 S. Myrtle Ave.), a vibrant record store specializing in new and used vinyl across various genres. Old Town is a one mile walk from the train station, and there you will find numerous restaurants and shops for the browsing. On Friday and Saturday evenings, shuttles run from the Monrovia station to Old Town from 5 to 10 p.m. Duarte Station. This is your stop for City of Hope (1500 East Duarte Rd.). City of Hope is world renowned for its commitment to cancer treatment and medical research. City of Hope hosts Saturday Science Days with activities designed for both elementary and middle school children, as well as a Community Science Festival. The Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy is a research program for college and high school students. Irwindale Station. Catch a bus for the Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area (15501 E. Arrow Hwy., Baldwin Park), home of The Original Renaissance Pleasure Faire . You may also want to visit Huy Fong Foods, Inc . (4800 Azusa Canyon Rd.), maker of Sriracha. The company hosts tours of the factory and a Sriracha Chile Grinding event for the public. Book here , but tours do fill up quickly. Azusa Station. Head over to Congregation Ale House (619 N. Azusa Ave.), a church- themed bar where the jukebox plays “hymns” and the tip jars look like col- lection boxes. Sip on a brew called Hell or High Watermelon while listening
Continue Future on Page 14
Vista Canyon Vincent Grade/Acton
Guadalupe - Santa Maria
for rail transit development. This growth is spurred by a surge in train travel over the past decade; e.g., Eurail sold 1.2 million passes in 2023 — the most since its start in 1959, and Amtrak had its biggest year on record in 2024 with 32.8 million riders, a 15% increase from 2023. Southern California’s growing list of regional rail projects includes the following: ■ The Regional Connector Transit System in Downtown Los Angeles opened in July 2023, and is a 1.9 mile underground light rail connection between the Little Tokyo/Arts District Station to the 7th Street/ Metro Center Station in downtown Los Angeles. The Regional connector improves connectivity by allowing light rail system passengers to SANTA BARBARA COUNTY VENTURA COUNTY Ventura - East Lompoc - Surf Ventura County Line Sherman Way Roscoe Nordhoff Chatsworth
Via Princessa
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
Newhall Santa Clarita
Sylmar/San Fernando Sun Valley
Burbank Airport North (AV Line)
BUR
Burbank Airport South (VC Line)
Burbank - Downtown
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
METRO A LINE EXTENSION PROJECT
Fillmore Del Mar Memorial Park South Pasadena
San Bernardino Line Inland Empire - Orange County Line
Arrow Service
STATIONS OPEN SEPT. 19, 2025
North Hollywood
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY
Universal City/Studio City
Glendale
Hollywood/Highland
Covina
Hollywood/Vine
Lincoln/Cypress Heritage Sq Southwest Museum Highland Park
CENTRAL LA
Hollywood/Western
Vermont/Beverly Vermont/Santa Monica Vermont/Sunset
Baldwin Park
Rail Station Transfer Station
METRO D LINE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT
Chinatown
Wilshire/Vermont
Union Station
DOWNTOWN LA
Westlake/MacArthur Park
WESTSIDE
Busway On-Street Service
7th St/Metro Ctr
Regional Rail Station
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
LATTC/Ortho Institute Jefferson/ USC
Pico
Grand/LATTC
G Line Chatsworth to North Hollywood *Van Nuys Station closed until winter 2028, buses will stop at Van Nuys Bl and Oxnard St. J Line El Monte to San Pedro Metro Busway Street service in Downtown LA and San Pedro. A Line Pomona to Long Beach B Line North Hollywood to Union Station C Line LAX to Norwalk D Line Wilshire/Western to Union Station E Line Santa Monica to East LA K Line Expo/Crenshaw to Redondo Beach Metro Rail
EASTSIDE
San Pedro St
Washington
37th St/USC
Riverside - Downtown
Riverside Line
Martin Luther King Jr Leimert Park Hyde Park Fairview Heights Downtown Inglewood Westchester/Veterans Downtown Inglewood Westchester/Veterans LAX/Metro Transit Center Martin Luther King Jr Leimert Park Hyde Park Fairview Heights
Vernon
Riverside - Hunter Park/UCR
Slauson
Slauson
Moreno Valley/March Field
SOUTH LA
Florence
Riverside - La Sierra
Perris - Downtown
Commerce
Firestone
Manchester
Perris - South
103rd St/ Watts Towers Willowbrook/ Rosa Parks
91/Perris Valley Line
Corona - North Main
travel between destination points by bringing the A (formerly the Gold Line) and E (formerly the Expo and Blue Lines) Lines together at the 7th Street/Metro Center Station, along with the D Line and B Line (See LA Metro Rail Map 1, right), increasing access to jobs, education and essential services with only one, or even no transfers. The A Line goes directly between Long Beach and Pomona and the E Line goes directly between Santa Monica and East Los Angeles.
LAX
Aviation/ Century
Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs
Mariposa
Compton
Rosecrans
Corona - West
Buena Park
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
Artesia
Harbor Gateway Transit Ctr
El Segundo
Fullerton
GATEWAY CITIES
PACIFIC OCEAN
Del Amo
Douglas
Carson
Wardlow
Redondo Beach
Anaheim
Anaheim Canyon
Willow St
SOUTH BAY
Pacific Coast Hwy
Pacific Coast Hwy
Regional Rail
ORANGE COUNTY
Orange
Anaheim St
amtrak.com Amtrak
Santa Ana
5th St
Pacific Av
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
Tustin
Downtown Long Beach
1st St
San Pedro
metrolinktrains.com Metrolink
Irvine
Arrow Service
Antelope Valley Line Inland Empire - Orange County Line Orange County Line San Bernardino Line Riverside Line 91/Perris Valley Line Ventura County Line
SAN DIEGO COUNTY
Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo
San Juan Capistrano
San Clemente
San Clemente Pier Oceanside
LA Metro Rail Map
LAX FlyAway flylax.com/flyaway Airport Shuttle
The Regional Connector, alone, is
Solana Beach
San Diego
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
SEP 2025
Subject to Change
12 | CITY OF MONTCLAIR | TRANSIT UPDATE
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From Future on Page 13
The Transcontinental Chief would absorb routes currently served by Amtrak’s Southwest Chief and Pennsylvanian lines, which connect Southern California and New York through stops in Chicago or Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. California State Rail Plan . To help shape the development of rail service, the State of California has adopted the California State Rail Plan , establishing a long-term vision for an integrated, cohesive statewide rail system that offers efficient passenger and freight services, lays out strategies for investments and design to increase the state’s economic growth, improve quality of life, promote equity within the state’s most vulnerable and impacted communities, and advance the state’s ambitious climate action goals.
California High-Speed Rail is intended to connect San Francisco to Los Angeles along a 494-mile route at speeds of up to 220 miles per hour. Despite funding issues, the project remains a key initiative for providing fast, efficient, and environmentally friendly transportation for the state. California’s High-Speed Rail also remains deeply controversial, with proponents arguing it is a necessary infrastructure project that promotes economic development, represents a sustainable transportation option, and advances environmental goals by reducing traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions. Critics, however, argue the project has little hope of achieving its goals in a timely or cost-effective manner, and should be scaled down. For the present, State leaders are pursuing the following steps: ■ Central Valley Completion: The priority remains completing the Bakersfield-to-Merced segment, which could serve as a proof of concept for future extensions. ■ Further Federal Funding: Advocates hope for renewed federal funding, possibly as part of larger infrastructure initiatives. ■ Restructuring the Project: There are calls for rethinking the project, possibly scaling it back or focusing on smaller, more manageable segments that could be completed more quickly and serve as regional commuter lines. The High Desert Corridor is a planned 54-mile high-speed rail line that will link the California High-Speed Rail system at Palmdale with the Brightline West route at Victor Valley.
Brightline West is planning to operate 50 trains per day, 25 in each direction, with 45-minute intervals between 5:30 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. The ridership potential for Brightline West could greatly contribute to significant increases in A Line ridership to the Montclair Transit Center, which is already projected to see an estimated 6,200 daily boardings. Montclair’s development plans call for a transit village at the Transit Center, with a passenger terminal and shuttle buses departing every 15 minutes for Ontario International Airport and the Brightline West Station in Rancho Cucamonga. Brightline West was originally scheduled to be completed by 2028, in time for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. However, cost projections for the project recently increased from $12 billion to $21 billion, and the company is struggling to identify sources of funds for continuation of the project. Brightline East, operating between Miami and Orlando, in Florida, has also experienced significant debt and operating struggles . Earlier in the year it refinanced $985M of junior debt at a record-high 14.89% yield, reflecting deep investor concern after delaying a July 2025 interest payment on $1.2B in municipal bonds. The company, already downgraded deeper into junk by S&P and Fitch, faces falling ridership (53% below projections) and revenue (67% below estimates). The company has also dealt with cash shortfalls. Dreamstar Lines , operating as Golden Coast Express, is a private passenger rail company based in California that, in 2026, will initiate a luxury train service. The train will utilize refurbished, bi-level train cars powered by hydrogen or hybrid electric-hydrogen technology that would link Los Angeles and San Francisco with overnight passenger service. The last overnight passenger train between the two cities, Lark, stopped operating in 1968. The Golden Coast Express will operate nightly, with trains departing at 10:00 p.m. and arriving at the final destination point at 8:30 a.m. the next day. The 400-mile-long route is designed to offer comfort and convenience. Along the way, the train will pass through the rolling hills of the Bay Area, the rugged cliffs of Big Sur, and the farmland of the Central Coast. Trains would have intermediate stops at San Jose, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. Onboard amenities will include two sleeping car arrangements, with passengers choosing between two-person bedrooms and private showers to spacious suites with queen beds. Families or groups can opt for larger rooms that sleep up to six travelers. A lounge with open seating and bar will offer meal service, with breakfast delivery to rooms available. Four planned classes will include family, bedroom, suite and standard. Standard class would be the highest class, equivalent to first class international flight service. Similar to the Amtrak Auto Train, Dreamstar Lines will allow passengers to bring their cars on board the train. Reservations are expected to open in early 2026 and pricing is reportedly to be competitive with the combined cost of airfare and hotels. The Transcontinental Chief , a high-speed rail line connecting major U.S. cities, New York and Los Angeles — the line is expected to go operational in May 2026, and carry several million passengers annually. Along the route are eight main stops at key stations, including the endpoints: Los Angeles, New York, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago, Kansas City and Albuquerque. Counting all the intermediate stops, the route extends across 54 cities throughout the country. Besides carrying passengers, the Transcontinental Chief would also transport truck drivers along with their tractor trailers between the West and East coasts within three days.
Key stops include Long Beach, Downtown Los Angeles, Chinatown, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Azusa and Pomona. The Regional Connector Tunnel links it to Flower Street and beyond. ● B Line. The B Line (Red Dot) is a fully underground subway stretching 14.7 miles from North Hollywood in the San Fernando Valley to Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles, with 14 stations. Key stops include Universal City/Studio City (for Universal Studios), Hollywood/Vine (Hollywood Walk of Fame), Westlake/ MacArthur Park, and 7th St/Metro Center. ● C Line. The C Line (Green Dot) runs 17.8 miles from the LAX/ Metro Transit Center in Westchester to Norwalk. It has 12 stations and runs entirely on a grade-separated route, much of it in the median of the I-105 freeway. Key stops include Aviation/LAX (opened in 2024, near the SoFi Stadium area) and Willowbrook/Rosa Parks (transfer to the A Line). In June 2025, service extended to the new LAX/Metro Transit Center. ● D Line. The D Line (Purple Dot) is a subway running between Koreatown and Downtown Los Angeles. It is 5.1 miles long with 8 stations, from Wilshire/Western in Koreatown to Union Station in Downtown. The line follows Wilshire Boulevard and shares tracks with the B Line east of Wilshire/Vermont. Key stations include Wilshire/Western (terminus), Wilshire/ Vermont (transfer to B Line), 7th St/Metro Center (transfer to A and Expo lines), and Union Station (terminus with regional connections). An extension is underway, adding seven new stations westward, including Wilshire/La Brea, La Cienega, Beverly Hills, Century City, and Westwood. Completion is estimated by 2027. ● E Line. The E Line (Gold Dot) runs east–west from Downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica. It is 21.9 miles long with 29 stations. The eastern end is Atlantic Station (East Los Angeles) and the western end is Downtown Santa Monica. The line follows the former Pacific Electric route along Exposition Boulevard. Key stations include Little Tokyo/Arts District and 7th St/Metro Center in Downtown Los Angeles, then through Culver City, ending at Downtown Santa Monica. In Downtown Los Angeles it interlines with the A Line at Little Tokyo and 7th St/ Metro Center.
Development of the Rail Plan involves collaborating effectively with State agencies, regional and local governments, transportation agencies, commuter rail operators, freight railroads, and other partners across California to implement the vision, with equity as a key goal for the Rail Plan. For additional information on the California State Rail Plan, click on the following links: Factsheet 2024 California State Rail Plan 2024 Appendix* YouTube Video of April 19,2023 State Rail Plan Workshop Presentation: State Rail Plan Workshop Introduction and Summary
Presentation: Northern California Breakout Group Presentation: Southern California Breakout Group 2024 California State Rail Plan Video
Brightline West , a high-speed rail line, will provide bi-directional train travel between Las Vegas and Rancho Cucamonga, with the travel time for each leg estimated to take approximately two hours. Once completed, Brightline West will travel at an average speed of 186 mph, and carry between 434 and 450 passengers per train, with annual ridership projected to be nine million passengers.
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