Meeting_Body
CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 14, 2026
Subject
SUBJECT: LONE HILL TO WHITE DOUBLE TRACK PROJECT
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
AUTHORIZE the Chief Executive Officer to:
A. EXECUTE Modification No. 9 to Contract No. AE73891000 with Moffatt & Nichol to complete the final phase of design and bring the project to shovel-ready stage, in the amount of $955,866, increasing the Total Contract Value from $10,735,474 to $11,691,340; and
B. APPROVE programming an overall $2,028,570 to the project, increasing the programmed Measure R 3% funds from $18,523,736 to $20,552,306, in order to achieve shovel-ready project status.
Issue
ISSUE
Staff is advancing the Lone Hill to White Double Track project from inception through the final design phase. As the design progressed, additional requirements were identified through coordination with third-party agencies and changes in project interface conditions. Board approval of the staff recommendations will provide the resources necessary to incorporate the requirements needed to complete final design and advance the project to a shovel-ready status while Metro continues to pursue construction funding. This approach allows Metro to complete the design while avoiding premature work that could require redesign as field conditions, agency requirements, or construction constraints evolve. Completion of this final design phase will demonstrate project readiness and enhance the project’s competitiveness for future construction grant funding.
Background
BACKGROUND
The Lone Hill to White Double Track project runs along the San Gabriel Subdivision and merges with the Pasadena Subdivision at White Avenue, where the Gold Line Phase 2B project will operate. The proximity between both rail subdivisions results in three railroad crossings being less than 300 feet apart: San Dimas Canyon Road, White Avenue, and Fulton Road. The Gold Line Authority has been a collaborative partner through the design development process for the Lone Hill to White Double Track project.
The Project will improve service reliability and on-time performance along the Metrolink’s San Bernardino Line by reducing single-track bottlenecks and delays associated with that, while providing greater operational flexibility. It is also identified as a vital line reliability project in Metrolink’s Southern California Optimized Rail Expansion (SCORE) Program, supporting future 30-minute bi-directional service along the San Bernardino Line. The Project also includes safety and Quiet Zone-ready improvements at existing grade crossings.
At its October 2013 meeting, the Board approved $3,000,000 in programming to begin environmental and preliminary engineering work for the four miles of double tracking. At the December 2019 meeting, the Board approved $7,500,000 for final design work, inclusive of all third-party and professional service-related costs.
At its July 2021 meeting, the Board approved reprogramming of $769,688 in project savings from Lone Hill to White Preliminary Engineering to Lone Hill to White Final Design and established a Life of Project (LOP) Final Design budget of $8,269,688 to initiate final design services.
On July 22, 2021, Moffat and Nichol received Notice to Proceed to perform final design engineering services for the Lone Hill to White Project, including the preparation of approved plans, specifications, and estimates.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
As final design advanced, changes to adjacent project conditions, third-party and jurisdictional requirements, field conditions, and updated regulatory requirements resulted in additional design work beyond the original scope. These changes include coordination with the completed Gold Line Foothill Extension Phase 2B Project, right-of-way and utility requirements, revised hydrology requirements, and updated railroad signal specifications.
Staff evaluated the additional design requirements with the design team and determined that only changes necessary to obtain final design approval should be incorporated at this time. Changes dependent on the future construction schedule will be deferred until construction funding and schedule are established.
This contract modification will include the following changes:
• Survey: Expand survey coverage near San Dimas Canyon Road, White Avenue, and Arrow Highway to incorporate City-requested modifications and provide design compatibility with the Gold Line Foothill Extension Phase 2B Project.
• Right-of-Way: Prepare additional property-specific ROW exhibits and lease mapping to support encroachment removal and pre-construction readiness.
• Utilities and insurance: Address additional utility conflicts identified through field potholing, coordinate required utility relocations, and address updated right-of-entry insurance requirements.
• Fiber-Optic and Signal Design: Revise fiber-optic layouts and utility interfaces to accommodate Sprint-requested joint trench configurations and update signal specifications to comply with FRA requirements issued in May 2024.
• Hydrology and Hydraulics: Complete the 100% report in accordance with revised City requirements.
• Trackwork: Revise trackwork as necessary to incorporate changes resulting from the revised drainage and structural requirements.
Given the above, the additional programming of Measure R 3% funds requested in the amount of $2,028,570 is summarized below in Table 1.
Table 1: Lone Hill to White Double Track Project
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
This Board action will not have any adverse impact on safety, rather it will improve the safety of the San Dimas and La Verne communities. The Lone Hill to White Double Track Project is being designed in accordance with Metro and SCRRA standards, state and federal requirements, and in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Execution of the proposed modification and programming request for the Lone Hill to White Double Track Project would require amending the previously Board- approved programming by the recommended $2,028,570. This additional programming is included in the FY27 Adopted Budget.
This is a multi-year capital project, and the Project Manager of Regional Rail under Program Management and the Chief Program Management Officer will be accountable and responsible for budgeting the cost of future fiscal year commitments in department 2415, Regional Rail for project number 460068 as shown in Attachment D, Lone Hill to White Double Track Project Funding and Expenditure Plan.
Impact to Budget
The source of funds for FY27 and future fiscal year programming for the project is Measure R 3% Transit Capital. These funds are not eligible for use in Metro bus/rail operations .
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
The Lone Hill to White Double Track Project operates on the San Bernardino Line. According to Metrolink's 2025 Onboard Survey, the median household income of San Bernardino Line riders is $60,913. Systemwide, 39% of Metrolink riders report annual household incomes below $50,000. The survey also found that the average Metrolink rider is 51 years old and that Hispanic riders comprise 40% of systemwide ridership, making them the largest ethnic group of Metrolink riders
The Lone Hill to White Double Track Project will improve service reliability, network integration, operational flexibility, and on-time performance along the San Bernardino Line. The project supports the implementation of the Metrolink SCORE Program by providing the infrastructure necessary for future 30-minute bi-directional service throughout the day and evening. While the project traverses a corridor that includes a mix of Moderate Need and High Need communities, its benefits extend throughout the San Bernardino Line, improving mobility and access for riders traveling to and from numerous Equity Focus Communities (EFCs).
This project will improve American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance. All proposed improvements comply with the latest ADA requirements within the project footprint.
Vehicle_Miles_Traveled_Outcome
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED OUTCOME
Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) and VMT per capita in Los Angeles County are lower than national averages, the lowest in the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) region, and on the lower end of VMT per capita statewide, with these declining VMT trends due in part to Metro’s significant investment in rail and bus transit.* Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets align with California’s statewide climate goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. To ensure continued progress, all Board items are assessed for their potential impact on VMT.
As part of these ongoing efforts, this item is expected to contribute to further reductions in VMT. This item supports Metro’s systemwide strategy to reduce VMT through investment and planning activities that will improve and further encourage transit ridership, ridesharing, and active transportation. Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets were designed to build on the success of existing investments, and this item aligns with those objectives.
*Based on population estimates from the United States Census and VMT estimates from Caltrans’ Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data between 2001-2019.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
The proposed recommendations support strategic plan goals 1, 3 and 4. The Regional Rail Capital improvements improve service reliability and mobility, provide better transit connections throughout the network, and implement the following specific strategic plan goals:
• Goal 1.2: Improve LA County’s overall transit network and assets;
• Goal 3.3: Genuine public and community engagement to achieve better mobility outcomes for the people of LA County; and
• Goal 4.1: Metro will work with partners to build trust and make decisions that support the goals of the Strategic Plan
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board could choose not to approve the authorization to execute the contract modification and amend the programming for this project. This alternative is not recommended since this project has been identified as a key project to provide line reliability in support of Metrolink’s 30-minute bi-direction service along the San Bernardino Line.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Upon Board approval staff will execute Modification No. 9 to Contract No. AE73891000 with Moffatt & Nichol to complete the final design and advance the Project to shovel-ready status. Staff will continue to pursue funding opportunities for right-of-way acquisition and construction.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Procurement Summary
Attachment B - Contract Modification/Change Order Log
Attachment C - DEOD Summary
Attachment D - Funding and Expenditure Plan
Prepared_By
Prepared by: Bilal Khazaal, Director, Regional Rail, (213) 418-3330
Kavita Mehta, Executive Officer, Regional Rail, (213) 435-5047
Sameh Ghaly, Deputy Chief Program Management Officer, (213) 418-3369
Carolina Coppolo, Deputy Chief Vendor/Contract Management Officer, (213) 922-4471
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Timothy Lindholm, Chief Program Management Officer,
(213) 922-7297
Mat Antonelli, Chief Vendor/Contract Management Officer,
(213) 893-7191
