Local legislators have asked the state for $280 million to complete funding for the $1.48 billion extension of the Gold Line light rail from Glendora to Montclair, set to break ground in October.

The money would come from an unusual source not normally used to build mass transit projects: the Cap and Trade Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.

Cap and Trade funds are generated when companies such as oil refineries and manufacturers exceed their allotted levels of greenhouse gas emissions and must buy permits. These permits are auctioned by the state. State officials estimate the pot will grow to $1.4 billion for the 2017-2018 fiscal year.

State Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-La Canada Flintridge, said building more rail lines will take cars off the roads, reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. GHGs contribute to global climate change, which results in rising temperatures, extreme weather and rising sea levels.

“There is a statewide effort to increase the transit portion of the Cap and Trade dollars. I think we are in a good position,” Portantino said during an interview Friday.

Portantino — along with state Sen. Connie Leyva, D-Chino and Assemblyman Freddie Rodriguez, D-Pomona — wrote a letter to state Sen. Bob Wieckowski, chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee and the Senate Environmental Quality Committee, as well as Sen. Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles and Senate Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles.

Besides the letter, a lobbyist for the Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority spoke to the committee on Thursday about how the project would remove cars from the 10 and 210 freeways.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority granted the Construction Authority about $1.2 billion to build the line out to Claremont, since it cannot pay for train lines outside of Los Angeles County. Metro estimated the full project to Montclair was still $249 million short.

The San Bernardino County Transportation Agency had saved $37 million from a bond measure, but came up $31 million shy of its allocation.

If the Construction Authority gets the extra $280 million, the gap will be closed, said Habib Balian, CEO of the Monrovia-based Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority. He estimates the extension from APU/Citrus College station through six cities — including crossing the county line into Montclair — would cost about $1.48 billion.

Aside from reducing automobile emissions, Balian said another reason why the legislators would approve the request is because most of the money for the extension is funded by <URL destination="http://www.sgvtribune.com/government-and-politics/20161108/measure-m-la-county-transportation-tax-looks-likely-to-win">Measure M, a half-cent tax measure approved by Los Angeles County voters in November 2016.

</URL>“There is a lot of juice behind this request,” Balian said. “A granter will see all this local money and that should be impressive to these legislators that this project is supported locally, both politically and financially.”

The Construction Authority will award the first contract in October for moving utility lines. A second contract will be awarded for the construction of the light-rail tracks and infrastructure in September 2018. Completion is expected in early 2026, he said.

With three legislators and Metro pushing for the Cap and Trade funds, Balian is confident the project will proceed as designed.

“It is very impressive to see folks get involved and help us with this project,” he said. “This project wouldn’t happen without their leadership.”

Portantino said he would learn if the Cap and Trade funding request is approved by the end of September or sooner.