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AB-1678 • 2026

Claremontclair Authority: Metro A Line Extension project.

Claremontclair Authority: Metro A Line Extension project.

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Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Harabedian
Last action
2026-04-13
Official status
(Pending re-refer to Com. on L. GOV.)
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide details on when the project will start or end, nor does it specify costs.

Claremontclair Authority: Metro A Line Extension Project

The bill creates a new authority called the Claremontclair Authority to oversee and complete a light rail extension from Claremont to Montclair, including financial studies, planning, engineering, and construction.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates the Claremontclair Authority to manage the design and construction of a light rail extension from Claremont to Montclair.
  • Gives the authority power to conduct necessary financial studies, planning, and engineering for the project.
  • Requires the authority to make reasonable progress in designing and building the light rail line.
  • Establishes a board with 5 voting members and one nonvoting member appointed by different local agencies and the Governor.
  • Makes agreements between the Claremontclair Authority and other transportation authorities to provide necessary property and assets for the project.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People living in or near Claremont, Montclair, and surrounding areas who will use the light rail service.
  • Local agencies such as city councils, transportation authorities, and the Governor's office that appoint board members of the Claremontclair Authority.

Terms To Know

Claremontclair Authority
A new organization created to oversee the design and construction of a light rail extension from Claremont to Montclair.
Public Utilities Commission
An agency that supervises and regulates public utilities in California.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify when the project will be completed or how much it will cost.
  • It is unclear what specific changes local agencies must make to comply with this new state-mandated program.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 California Legislative Information

    (Pending re-refer to Com. on L. GOV.)

  2. 2026-04-13 California Legislative Information

    Assembly Rule 56 suspended.

  3. 2026-04-09 California Legislative Information

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

  4. 2026-03-23 California Legislative Information

    Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.

  5. 2026-03-19 California Legislative Information

    From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. Read second time and amended.

  6. 2026-03-19 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on TRANS. and L. GOV.

  7. 2026-02-03 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 5.

  8. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1678, as amended, Harabedian.
Public utilities.
Claremontclair Authority: Metro A Line Extension project.
Existing law creates the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority for purposes of awarding and overseeing all design and construction contracts for completion of a light rail project extending from Union Station in the City of Los Angeles to Sierra Madre Villa Boulevard in the City of Pasadena and any mass transit guideway that may be planned along the rail right-of-way extending to the City of Montclair in the County of San Bernardino, as provided.
This bill would reduce the scope of the light rail project overseen by the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority by instead providing that the project extends to any mass transit guideway that may be planned along the rail right-of-way to the City of Claremont in the County of Los
Angeles.
This bill would instead require the Claremontclair Authority (authority), which the bill would create, to award and oversee all design and construction contracts for completion of a light rail project extending from and including the rail tracks located to the east of the Claremont light rail station to be constructed by the Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority and continuing to the Montclair Transit Center in the City of Montclair in the County of San Bernardino. The bill would grant the authority all the powers necessary for completion of the project, as provided. The bill would require the authority to conduct financial studies and planning and engineering necessary for completion of the project and to make reasonable progress in the design and construction of the project. The bill would require the authority to be dissolved upon completion of project construction. The bill would also make conforming changes.
This bill would require the authority to be governed by a board of 5 voting members and one nonvoting member, with the city councils of the Cities of Claremont and Montclair, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), the president of the board of directors of the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA), and the County of San Bernardino Board of Supervisors each appointing one voting member and the Governor appointing the nonvoting member. The bill would authorize the board to appoint an executive director and authorize the executive director to appoint staff or retain consultants as necessary to carry out the duties of the authority.
This bill would require LACMTA and SBCTA to enter into an agreement with the authority to grant to the authority or hold in trust with the authority all real property and real property rights, and other assets, as necessary for the completion of the
project. The bill would also require LACMTA and the authority to enter into a memorandum of understanding that specifically addresses the ability of LACMTA to review any significant changes in the scope of the design or construction, or both the design and construction, of the project. The bill would require LACMTA to assume responsibility for operating all completed phases of the project, with operation of certain portions of the project being contingent upon LACMTA entering into an operations and maintenance agreement with SBCTA, as provided.
By imposing new duties on local agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would
provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Existing law authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to supervise and regulate every public utility in the state, as specified.
This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to that authorization.

Current Bill Text

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