The $735 million Metro Gold Line light rail extension project is continuing its 11.5-mile, east-bound journey from the cities of Pasadena to Azusa in Los Angeles County. The Foothill Extension Construction Authority, the entity in charge of the project, announced last week that actual construction work is set to begin on connecting the existing Gold Line Sierra Madre Villa Station in Pasadena to a new station in the city of Azusa.

Foothill Transit Constructors, a Kiewit-Parsons Joint Venture, was awarded the contract in July to design and build the Pasadena to Azusa alignment, which includes the stations, track, crossings and bridges. Another contract was awarded in February to Webcor Builders for intermodal parking facilities and enhancements. The project is scheduled to open to Azusa in 2016.

The proposed second phase of the Gold Line project is a 12-mile design-build extension from Azusa to Montclair. Though still seeking funding, the roughly $1 billion project is getting attention. The Construction Authority on October 23 held a meeting with federal, state and local officials and key stakeholders to discuss engineering aspects of the project and to provide station design updates and possible time lines.

A Locally Preferred Alternative was selected earlier this year by the Construction Authority board of directors, following environmental review and clearance of the project under the California Environmental Policy Act (CEQA). Since that time, the Construction Authority has developed the scope of work to advance the necessary design, engineering and station art planning. The agency is set to begin the advanced conceptual engineering early next year.

Authority CEO Habib Balian said he wants the partner cities to start to understand what they can expect and what stations might look like if and when the light rail passes through their land. The route is planned to run from Azusa, to the cities of Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, Pomona, Claremont and Montclair.

The Authority held a pre-bid conference about the project on October 28 and intends to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP - C1160 Azusa to Montclair Engineering and NEPA Support Services) in early January 2014. The main scope of work in this procurement will be to provide consultant services to perform a NEPA study of the project and provide engineering support for the advanced conceptual engineering (approximately 30%) work that will be performed by the Construction Authority.

A non-mandatory pre-proposal conference is scheduled for Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at Arcadia City Hall, Council Chambers, 240 W Huntington Dr, Arcadia, CA.