The Gold Line Construction Authority, created through singularly-focused legislation, has spent years extending Metro light rail service east through the San Gabriel Valley. On September 19, the Gold Line service to Pomona will open, creating a long-awaited connection with Metrolink’s San Bernardino Line. This milestone ensures that San Bernardino County riders can access the San Gabriel Valley and beyond, while Los Angeles County riders can transfer seamlessly into San Bernardino County.
Yet, while this new connectivity is important, it also brings into sharp focus a fundamental concern for the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) Board of Directors: the governance structure behind the project. In seeking additional funding commitments from SBCTA to extend the line from Pomona to Montclair along the existing Metrolink corridor, the Gold Line Construction Authority has exposed the inequity built into its legislative framework. Unlike every other regional investment, this arrangement requires SBCTA to contribute taxpayer dollars while denying the Board a meaningful voice in project oversight or in the perpetual commitment of operating funds. This imbalance, effectively “taxation without representation,” asks San Bernardino County residents to finance a project they cannot help guide, either during construction or in its long-term administration.
Against this backdrop, the SBCTA Board of Directors made the difficult but necessary decision to remove funding from the Gold Line to Montclair Project and instead study opportunities to expand Metrolink service in the same corridor.
This decision was not made hastily. It comes after nearly a decade of deliberation about the ever-escalating timelines and costs associated with the extension, coupled with the Board’s frustration over the absence of local control in decision-making. The Board’s course of action reflects responsible transit planning – prioritizing regional connections, avoiding duplicative or overlapping services, and ensuring that scarce taxpayer dollars are invested where they deliver the most value.
By intersecting with Metrolink in Pomona, the Gold Line provides the critical east–west connection needed to strengthen the broader regional transit network. Meanwhile, Montclair and other San Bernardino County cities are advancing their own transformative investments. Rancho Cucamonga’s plans for Cucamonga Station, tied to Brightline West’s high-speed rail, position the city as a regional gateway. Redlands has embraced Metrolink expansion with the innovative Arrow service. Upland is revitalizing its downtown with the expectation of frequent, dependable rail service. Together, these efforts underscore the importance of a robust Metrolink San Bernardino Line.
After several months of discussion, the outcome of today’s vote reflects just how deeply engaged the Board was in this discussion. It also underscores the Board’s recognition of Montclair’s commitment to transit-oriented development and its desire to honor that investment, even as the Board takes the responsible step of ensuring that San Bernardino County funds are used wisely, transparently, and with full accountability.