San Fernando Valley, Inglewood, OC, IE transit projects receive federal grants – Orange County Register

A first-ever light rail line for the San Fernando Valley, a streetcar in central Orange County, a people mover in Inglewood and a special bus project serving Ontario International Airport were all winners of a large grant allocation from the state transportation agency Tuesday, January 31.

However, an extension of the L Line (formerly Gold) from Pomona to Montclair in San Bernardino County has been delisted, causing waves of disappointment among San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire city officials who have attempted it multiple times and was unable to secure gap funding for the project.

“This is very disappointing news as we believe the shovel-ready project was very competitive and could have quickly used the funding to create jobs and economic output for our region,” wrote Habib Balian, CEO of Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority, in a statement released on Tuesday.

The California State Transportation Agency awarded more than $2.5 billion to 16 transit projects in the state, with the money coming from last year’s state surplus.

A $600,000 million grant — the largest grant for a single project — went to LA Metro’s proposed East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor, the Valley’s first light rail project.

The list of projects in Southern California includes:

• The Inglewood Transit Connector ($407.4 million): This would complete full funding for the project, a 1.6-mile people mover that will connect the Metro K Line, their newest light rail/subway, with nearby sports and entertainment venues such as the Kia Forum, SoFi Stadium and Intuit Dome (the future home of Clippers), as well as residential and commercial centers. The people mover will have three stations and will drive on an elevated track. The route takes in Market Street, Manchester Boulevard and Prairie Avenue. Groundbreaking is scheduled for 2024, with completion expected in 2028.

• Eastern San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor ($600 million): The project would be the first-ever light rail line in the valley since the Red Car went out of service in 1952. The first phase will travel 6.7 miles along the median of Van Nuys Boulevard to San Fernando Road. A second phase would continue a further 2.5 miles northwest along the Metrolink rail line. This money is in addition to the $909 million granted by the Federal Transit Administration. The first construction phase is to be completed by 2030.

• Lossan (Los Angeles-San Diego) Rail Corridor Agency ($6.6 million): Funds are intended to help complete repairs at the Rincon Point Slope in Ventura County. An additional $10.4 million is earmarked for the Ortega Hill Bluff and Pipe Repair project in Santa Barbara County.

• Orange County Transportation Department ($150 million): To fully fund the construction of a 4.15-mile new rail transit line in Santa Ana and Garden Grove. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2024.

• San Bernardino County Department of Transportation ($15.8 million): To convert diesel towing vehicles to zero-emission hydrogen-powered towing vehicles as part of the Redlands Passenger Rail Project between San Bernardino and Redlands. The new technology comes from Germany and will be delivered for testing later this year, with revenue service scheduled to begin in 2024.

• San Bernardino County Department of Transportation ($18.8 million): Construction of 19-mile bus rapid transit project connecting Rancho Cucamonga to Ontario, Montclair, Pomona and Ontario International Airport. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2025.

• Southern California Regional Railroad Authority (Metrolink) ($107 million): For these three projects: El Monte sidings and station improvements; reconfiguration of Fullerton Junction; Double track in the Simi Valley. These projects are scheduled to be completed in 2027.