CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE Off the Track Twenty-One Years on the A Line (affectionately known as the “Gold Line”) Light Rail System D uring the past month there has been considerable regional news coverage on the opening of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (Metro) four new A Line stations 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. Over the past 21 years, Montclair’s management team has committed a significant share 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 to develop Montclair’s transit district. However, on Sept. 3, 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.
Independent studies show that extending the A Line into San Bernardino will add boardings to both Metro and Metrolink, 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. What is the A Line?
EDWARD C. STARR CITY MANAGER
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. 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.
7th St/Met
Artist Rendering of Montclair Transit Center A Line Station
2 | CITY OF MONTCLAIR | 2025 ANNUAL NEWSLETTER
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