Glendora council approves amended memorandum with regional agency to build 10+ miles of trails and first/last-mile improvements

The Glendora City Council voted unanimously to approve an amended and restated memorandum of agreement with the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) to advance the Glendora People Movement Project, a package of trail and first/last-mile street improvements intended to provide more than 10 miles of active-transportation connections across the city.

Valerie Santoya, interim assistant public works director, told the council the People Movement Project bundles several smaller projects: the San Dimas Trail (phase 1 completed between Louis Pompeii Memorial Sparks Park and Sunflower), the Little Dalton and Big Dalton wash trails, and first/last-mile improvements on Glendora Avenue and Foothill Boulevard to improve access to the future A Line station and connect the village and commercial areas. Santoya said the project will include Class I separated bicycle/pedestrian paths, enhanced crosswalks, native landscaping, benches, and lighting retrofits along Glendora Avenue.

The council heard that the project’s total estimated cost is about $21 million. The city has secured approximately $9.9 million from a mix of federal and state earmarks, grants, local return transportation funds and capital improvement funds. The SGVCOG has allocated $6.6 million from Metro’s Measure M multiyear subregional program and staff said the COG is awaiting final Metro board approval of an additional approximately $4.96 million; in discussion COG representatives also described a separate $1.525 million allocation from the Active Transportation Program that increases the COG contribution to nearly $13 million in total support.

Council members asked about safety and homelessness concerns along wash trails. Santoya said the existing San Dimas segment is locked nightly from dusk to dawn and the city conducts nightly checks; she also said the city has not seen a significant increase in police calls on the built segment. Assistant City Manager Moises Lopez and councilmembers said increased daytime usage and police and outreach coordination were expected to reduce safety risks and that maintenance and nightly sweeps would be part of operations. City staff stated that the city will assume maintenance responsibilities once segments are completed.

The memorandum assigns lead responsibilities to the COG for preparing plans, specifications and estimates, environmental compliance, public outreach, right-of-way acquisition if needed, construction management and administration of the Metro funding. The city’s responsibilities include maintaining COG membership, providing existing plans and data, issuing no-cost encroachment permits, paying local match requirements, and assuming ownership and maintenance after construction.

Roy Choi, representing the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, and a representative from Alta answered technical questions from the council. Choi told the council that the COG governing board has approved near-term funding recommendations and that final Metro board approval likely will come in April or May. Councilmember Mendel moved to approve the amended and restated MOA; the motion was seconded by Karen and passed 4–0.

With funding largely in place for near-term work, staff said construction of remaining San Dimas Trail segments and associated street work will begin soon after procurement; design and permitting for the Little and Big Dalton washes are expected to follow and likely will be post‑2027 work. City staff said outreach will continue and that final phasing and possible scope adjustments would depend on final grant approvals and any future funding shortfalls.

Council action: city manager authorized to execute the amended and restated MOA with the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments to implement the Glendora People Movement Project. The motion passed 4–0.