Study: Extending rail to L.A./Ontario airport feasible

A 10-month study, which examined whether it is feasible to extend the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension from its planned terminus in Montclair to L.A./Ontario International Airport, showed that extending the light rail line to the airport is feasible and identified two preferred routes out of the 13 original route alternatives that were examined.

The Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension board of directors will host open houses in the area to give residents a chance to learn about the preferred routes. The board narrowed the route options from the original 13 based on technical evaluations and extensive feedback from the public and key stakeholders.

The study is the first step in a process required by the federal government for eventual project funding. Now that the study is complete, the Gold Line Foothill Extension to L.A./Ontario International Airport is moving to the next phase, which involves more detailed environmental and engineering review.

A recent study conducted of likely voters in the San Gabriel Valley showed that nearly 90 percent of people residing in cities along the Gold Line Foothill Extension corridor would take the light rail line if it was extended to L.A./Ontario International Airport.