CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
October 19, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Anita D. Scott, City Manager
Submitted By: Meg McWade, Public Works Director
SUBJECT: ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY’S PARTICIPATION IN THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY SGV FORWARD JUMP START TRANSIT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PEAK-HOUR BUS AND BICYCLE LANES ALONG HOLT AVENUE BETWEEN FAIRPLEX DRIVE AND MAIN STREET RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
Adopt the following Resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-123 – A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POMONA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE SCOPE OF IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY SGV FORWARD JUMP START TRANSIT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT ALONG HOLT AVENUE BETWEEN FAIRPLEX DRIVE AND MAIN STREET; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to negotiate and execute any necessary agreements, MOUs, MOAs, funding documents, implementation agreements, and related documents necessary to advance and complete the project, subject to approval as to form by the City Attorney.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG), in partnership with LA Metro and in coordination with Foothill Transit, is advancing the SGV Forward Project to identify and deliver high-quality transit improvements in the SR-60 corridor. As part of this effort, SGVCOG has identified the City of Pomona as the location for one of a small number of “Jump Start Projects” intended to be delivered before the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. For Pomona, the Jump Start Project consists of dedicated peak-hour bus and bike lanes on Holt Avenue between Fairplex Drive (SR-71) and Main Street, using a side-running configuration that preserves existing curb parking, along with associated striping, signage, and bus stop improvements. The adoption of the resolution approves the project’s scope of improvements within Pomona.
SGVCOG is the implementing agency for this project, consistent with the delivery model used for other SGVCOG-led corridor projects. Because the project is tied to Metro and regional funding timelines and the fixed 2028 Olympic deadline, Staff recommends delegating authority to the City Manager to negotiate and execute the agreement(s), MOA, and/or MOU necessary to implement the project, rather than requiring the agreement itself to return to Council for a separate approval. Staff is informed that the project is anticipated to be delivered at no direct cost to the City.
SB1439/GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLICABILITY:
☐ When this box is checked, it indicates the agenda item is subject to the Levine Act SB1439 requirements. Councilmembers are reminded to check their campaign contributions and determine whether they have received a campaign contribution of $500 or more that would require disclosure and/or recusal from discussing or acting on this agenda item. Campaign contributions of $500 or more made 1) by any person or entity who is identified in the agenda report as the applicant or proposer or 2) on behalf of the applicant or participant, including a parent, subsidiary or otherwise related business entity, or 3) by any person who has a financial interest in the agenda item requires a councilmember to comply with SB1439.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The project is anticipated to be fully funded through SGVCOG and LA Metro at no cost to the City of Pomona. The City – through SGVCOG - is currently requesting LA Metro retain maintenance and future replacement responsibility for the enhanced bus shelters which will be installed with this project. Additionally, the City has requested SGVCOG and Metro address the paving gap on Holt Avenue which is within the project limits. The City will be responsible for the future replacement of traffic markings, signage, and City traffic signal equipment for this project as with other grant funded improvement projects.
DISCUSSION:
In March 2024, the SGVCOG prepared and adopted the San Gabriel Valley Transit Feasibility Study, which identified regional transit projects to improve mobility and connectivity across the San Gabriel Valley . The entire transit mobility project’s goal will cover transit travel from Los Angeles Union Station to the Pomona Transit Station. As part of this study, now called “SGV Forward,” a set of Jump Start demonstration projects were identified to accelerate transit improvements in advance of the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Jump Start Projects consist of quick-build improvements to increase bus speed and improve service reliability.
From Fall 2025 through Spring 2026, SGVCOG and its consultant team conducted further planning activities, community outreach, and conceptual engineering specifically for the Jump Start Projects. SGVCOG is now coordinating with staff in each affected jurisdiction and presenting the proposed improvements to each City Council, which is the purpose of this item for Pomona.
In the City of Pomona, these improvements are located on Holt Avenue between Fairplex Drive and Main Street. Holt Avenue is utilized by Foothill Transit’s Line 486 and Silver Streak routes, which are the two of the highest ridership routes in the agency’s network. Both routes operate at a frequency of every 15 minutes, from early morning to evening. Holt Avenue is also served by Foothill Transit’s Line 482, which operates at a frequency of every 30 minutes throughout the day.
The Jump Start improvements are intended to fit within the existing street right-of-way and consist of three categories:
Dedicated peak hour bus lanes – this improvement consists of signs and pavement marking that designate the outside travel lanes for buses during peak hours, while preserving the existing curb and sidewalk area behind the curb in place. The peak hour bus lanes would designate the outside travel lanes for buses during the hours of 7:00 a.m. -9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Designated bus lanes have been implemented in many locations in Los Angeles County and nationally and have proven to increase the speed of bus service and improve schedule adherence. During the peak hours, the outside travel lanes would be reserved for buses; however, vehicles could access the outside travel lanes in advance of intersections and driveways to make right turns.
Transit signal priority (TSP) – this improvement consists of traffic signal controller and communication enhancements, applying a cloud-based technology. The TSP technology communicates to the signalized intersection to give priority to the bus as it approaches an intersection. Based on defined parameters, the programmed analytics within the traffic signal controller will extend the green signal phase or shorten the red signal phase to allow a bus to pass through an intersection without stopping. Transit signal priority has been implemented at many intersections in the San Gabriel Valley, Los Angeles County, and nationally and has been effective at speeding up bus service while also improving the flow of traffic for vehicles moving in the same direction as the buses.
Bus shelter upgrades – this improvement consists of installing new enhanced bus shelters with amenities such as canopies for protection from sun and rain, seating, real-time next bus arrival displays, and lighting to provide comfort and enhance the rider experience. Bus shelter upgrade locations will be prioritized for bus stops with the highest ridership demand and where there is space available within the street right-of-way. These are long lead items which are currently in high demand. The number of bus shelters installed as part of the Jump Start project will be determined as the project progresses.
The project has conducted a multi-lingual outreach program, with six community meetings and five community pop-up events completed thus far, of which two were in Pomona, to solicit input from community members. In addition, traffic and parking studies were completed to evaluate operational impacts and inform the scope of improvements.
The Cities of Monterey Park, Rosemead, South El Monte, and El Monte approved peak hour bus lane segments along Atlantic Boulevard and Garvey Avenue in August and September of 2026. Should Pomona City Council approve the recommended Scope of Improvements, SGVCOG would seek environmental clearance of the proposed project, pursue necessary funding from LA Metro to complete engineering design, and begin construction by the end of 2027.
The SGV Forward Holt Avenue Jump Start Project is one of several transit, complete streets, and active transportation efforts already underway in and around Pomona. Staff believes the project is consistent with, and complementary to, the Pomona Complete Streets Project, West Valley Connector, Holt Avenue Corridor Improvements, and the Bike Path Expansion on Valley Boulevard.
The adoption of the resolution provides City Council approval for the Scope of Improvements to be included in the project and provides for the formal agreement and approval for the project to be handled administratively by the City Manager due to the extremely strict funding and project delivery schedule.
COUNCIL PRIORITIES & GOALS:
This item supports the FY 2026-27 City Council Priority #2: Dedication to Infrastructure and Enhancement of Community Assets – Goal #B: Advance safer streets and traffic-calming solutions.
CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILY IMPACT:
No impact with this action.
Prepared by:
Lindsay McElwain
Acting Public Works Fiscal and Project Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment No. 1 – Resolution No. 2026-123
Attachment No. 2 – SGV Forward Project Presentation
Adoption of Resolution Authorizing City’s Participation in the SGV Forward Jump Start Project