On September 19, 2025, the LA Metro A Line extended its service to Pomona Station with the opening of a new 9.1-mile segment known as the Foothill Phase 2B project. This extension added four new stations from Glendora to Pomona and increased the total length of the A Line to over 57 miles, reinforcing its status as the longest light-rail line in the world.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) played a significant role in ensuring that safety standards were met before public operations began. As California’s designated State Safety Oversight Agency for all public transit guideways, including oversight of 15 Rail Transit Agencies statewide, CPUC collaborated closely with LA Metro’s Rail Safety Team. Their joint efforts focused on confirming that every safety component—such as gates, signals, and emergency systems—was operational and ready for passenger use.
A central element of this process was LA Metro’s Safety Certification Verification Report (SCVR), which is required by CPUC General Order 164-F for major rail projects in California. The SCVR serves as a comprehensive assessment verifying that a new rail line is safe to open to the public. For the Foothill Extension, it documented how both the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority and LA Metro verified safety across thousands of elements ranging from bridge structures to station signage.
Nearly all of more than 6,000 certifiable items received full approval prior to opening day. Outstanding tasks such as final signage installation and work at the Pomona Layover Facility are being completed under temporary measures reviewed by CPUC staff.
The CPUC staff and LA Metro engineers conducted hundreds of inspections and tests throughout development. These included grade crossing inspections to check warning devices, system integration testing for safe communications between systems during simulated service, and fire preparedness drills involving first responders along the route. By early 2025, all identified hazards had been addressed or mitigated according to official reports, with local fire departments issuing Temporary Certificates of Occupancy after confirming there were no outstanding fire or life-safety issues.
Daren S. Gilbert, Program Manager for the CPUC Rail Transit Safety Branch stated: “Our goal is simple: to ensure every rail project in California meets the highest standards of public safety before a single passenger steps onboard.”
He also emphasized that “the SCVR is more than a technical requirement. It is a record of accountability. By verifying everything from the smallest gate hinge to complex signaling software, the CPUC ensures that Californians can enjoy the benefits of expanded transit safely.”
The extension connects communities across San Gabriel Valley with downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach through continuous light-rail service. The collaboration among state regulators, local agencies, engineers, and first responders exemplifies an approach centered on safety at every stage.
Further details about this project are available on the Foothill Gold Line webpage. Additional information regarding CPUC’s oversight activities can be found on the agency’s website.
