Citing tariffs on imported steel, tighter immigration policies and rising wages, the Gold Line Construction Authority board Tuesday voted to build only half the Glendora-to-Montclair extension, saying runaway construction costs could prevent building out to Montclair.
By a 5-0 unanimous vote, the board authorized the surprise staff recommendation that the 12.3-mile extension needs to be built in two phases due to costs rising 38 percent, from $1.5 billion to $2.1 billion.
The Authority, which had scraped together $1.5 billion and had broken ground on utility replacement work, was about to award a design-build contract and make history as the first light-rail train extending from Los Angeles County to the Inland Empire when all four bidders said their costs would be way above the Authority’s estimated price tag.
In order not to derail the entire project, the Authority will use the money to build the first eight miles and new stations in Glendora, San Dimas and La Verne two years earlier than planned, by 2024.
The project from La Verne to Claremont, Pomona and Montclair becomes an iffy phase two, dependent on the economy, market forces and the agency finding the extra funding within the next two years.
“We have high probability we will be able to build from Glendora to La Verne with the funds we have now. To go beyond that, we need the $570 million,” said Habib Balian, CEO of the Construction Authority at the special board meeting in Monrovia.