The Metro Board of Directors has voted to approve a $1.4-billion budget and partnership agreement for an 11.5-mile extension of the Gold Line to Claremont, according an announcement on the Source.

The agreement between Metro and the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority establishes a funding plan and shared roles for the project, which is funded in part by the Measure M transportation sales tax that was approved by Los Angeles County voters in November 2016.  The Claremont extension is scheduled to be the first Measure M rail project to break ground, with preliminary work expected to begin in October.

Additional money for the projects comes from a variety of state and local sources, including $26 million in cost savings from phase one of the Foothill Extension.  Residual revenue from Measure R, another transportation sales tax passed by L.A. County voters in 2008, will provide $100 million.

Metro also intends to apply for a $249-million grant from the state's Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program.

Although the Construction Authority intends for service to extend beyond the L.A. County line to the Montclair Metrolink station, construction of that one-station segment is contingent on funding from San Bernardino County.

Construction of the second Foothill Extension is expected to be completed by 2027, at which time Metro will be able to offer an approximatley 40-minute trip between Montclair and Pasadena, and an approximately 75-minute ride from Montclair to Downtown Los Angeles.