The Monrovia, Calif.-based Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority (Construction Authority) issued a Full Notice to Proceed to Foothill Transit Constructors — A Kiewit Parsons Joint Venture for the $486 million Foothill Extension from Pasadena to Azusa light rail Alignment project.

The Full Notice to Proceed affords the Kiewit Parsons Joint Venture the ability to implement all aspects of the design-build contract, including design and construction of the 11.5-miles of tracks, stations, crossings, bridges, utilities, maintenance facility and more. The total project budget is $735 million.

In July, the Construction Authority was in the process of working to meet two major conditions placed on the project by Metro, which limited the availability of funds. The authority issued the Interim Notice to Proceed at that time to allow the contractor to begin work on the design and pre-construction phases of the project while the authority continued work to meet the two funding conditions.

The first condition — BNSF’s abandonment of the rail right-of-way west of Irwindale was completed in February. The second condition - full control over more than 50% of the land needed for the project’s 24-acre maintenance facility — was met late last month.

The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension is a $1.4 billion project, partially funded by Los Angeles County’s Measure R. The light rail extension is being overseen by the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority and is currently undergoing final design and construction for the Pasadena to Azusa segment and environmental review for the Azusa to Montclair segment.

Construction of the 11.5-mile light rail extension to Azusa is on schedule to be completed in late 2015. Once completed, the Pasadena to Azusa segment will be handed over to Metro for testing and pre-revenue service. The Construction Authority anticipates releasing the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Azusa to Montclair segment later this year.