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San Dimas Council tables restoration of historic Santa Fe cantilever signal for 90 days to allow fundraising and safety checks
Summary
Volunteers seeking to restore a 1915 Santa Fe cantilever signal and display it at Rhodes Park presented plans and an estimated $55,000–$60,000 cost. Council agreed to a 90-day check-in on fundraising, prevailing-wage questions and safety sign-offs before deciding whether the city will proceed or the artifact is offered elsewhere.
Volunteers and staff described a plan to restore a historic Santa Fe cantilever signal and display it at Rhodes Park, but the City Council on Feb. 24 voted to table the project for 90 days to let donors and staff show fundraising progress and resolve safety and labor questions.
Paul Lashura, the volunteer project coordinator, told the council the signal is an intact artifact from the Santa Fe right-of-way and that plans are approved by city public works. Lashura said about $1,600 has been raised so far, a few organizations have pledged support (he cited $4,000 in pledged donations from historical societies), and that an engineer’s estimate puts the likely full cost between $55,000 and $60,000. He said the project team hopes to complete construction by Thanksgiving if funds are raised.
Scott Wasserman, the city’s parks and recreation director, and Lashura outlined how volunteers and the Pacific Railroad Society (PRS) would handle fundraising and project management. Lashura described the technical work: installing a new 4-foot-diameter, 20-foot-deep caisson foundation; fabricating and bolting a steel splice tube; reconstructing the cantilever with high-strength bolts; and reconnecting electrical equipment to run the signal 24 hours a day. Lashura said the signal had been salvaged in 2022 and that the PRS will receive and manage donations.
Council members expressed support for preserving the artifact but pressed for firmer commitments. Councilmember 16 and others cited uncertainty about pledged funds and rising construction costs since 2020. Councilmember 19 proposed a 90-day review and asked staff to return with a fundraising status report; the council voted to table the matter and directed staff to provide information on: the fundraising spreadsheet and donor commitments, whether a city contribution would trigger prevailing-wage requirements, and written confirmations from LA Metro and the freight operator that the display would not create an operational safety issue.
The council also discussed alternatives including donating parts of the signal to another historical society if fundraising falls short. Lashura said plan B options exist (other societies and museums have expressed interest) but emphasized he expects to raise the necessary funds and requested the council’s help with outreach.
Next steps are procedural: the council asked staff and the project manager to return at the next regular council meeting after the 90th day with an update on pledged funds, legal/prevailing-wage implications and any required agency sign-offs so members can decide whether to proceed, authorize city funding, or transfer the artifact to another steward.
