On September 19, 2025, the LA Metro A Line expanded its service with a new extension reaching Pomona Station. The Foothill Phase 2B project added four stations between Glendora and Pomona, extending the A Line to over 57 miles and reinforcing its status as the longest light-rail line in the world.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) played a key role in preparing the extension for public use. As the State Safety Oversight Agency for all public transit guideways in California, including oversight of 15 Rail Transit Agencies statewide, CPUC worked alongside LA Metro’s Rail Safety Team to ensure that all safety systems were ready before passenger service began. This process included verifying infrastructure such as gates, signals, and emergency systems.
A significant part of this preparation was the completion of LA Metro’s Safety Certification Verification Report (SCVR). The SCVR is mandated by CPUC General Order 164-F for major rail projects and serves as documentation that a new rail line meets required safety standards before opening. The report detailed how both the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority—responsible for designing and building the project—and LA Metro—now operating it—verified safety across thousands of elements ranging from bridges to fire alarms and station signage.
According to project information, more than 6,000 certifiable components were reviewed through design, construction, and testing checklists. Nearly all items were approved before service began; remaining tasks like final signage and work at the Pomona Layover Facility are being finished under controlled conditions monitored by CPUC staff.
CPUC personnel conducted inspections at crossings such as Glendora Station to confirm proper installation of signage, tactile strips, and crossing gates. Additional safety steps included grade crossing inspections to verify operational alarms and warning devices; system integration tests to ensure communication among all systems; and emergency preparedness drills involving first responders from Glendora to Pomona. By early 2025, all identified hazards had been addressed, allowing local fire departments to issue a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy confirming no outstanding fire or life-safety concerns.
For riders using the new extension—which connects communities across the San Gabriel Valley to downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach—the rigorous safety process means that trains operate with multiple layers of oversight supporting each journey.
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 noted 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 completion of this extension highlights collaboration between local agencies, engineers, and state regulators working together on public transit safety oversight in California.
More details about the LA Metro A Line project can be found on the Foothill Gold Line webpage. Information about CPUC’s Rail Transit Safety Branch is available here.
