I know there was a lot of reader interest — understandably — in the recent news that Metro intends to purchase Union Station. Many readers were pleased with the news, saying the station needs more amenities as the number of rail users increases.
The deal is scheduled to close shortly and in the meantime three members of the Metro Board — Richard Katz, Supervisor Gloria Molina and L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa — have written a motion asking Metro to draw up a master plan for Union Station. The motion asks that Metro hold a design competition leading to conceptual plans for a “world class Union Station inter-modal station.”
The motion will be heard at the Board’s Executive Management & Audit Committee meeting on Thursday and then, presumably, at the full Board meeting on March 24.
The full motion is posted after the jump.
Click above to see a larger image.
while i agree that union station does need some rennovation, the history of the center should not be destroyed… it is a beautiful center, and any plans to renovate should include the keeping of the history of that center. i could not imagine walking through to the gold line or the metrolink without the history there… please do keep that in mind when renovating union station!
For everyones sake, don’t do anything bad to the building itself. It is amazingly beautiful, and is would be a shame for it to be changed at all. If anything, it should be cleaned. I would say, if anything, make the Gold Line underground, and make the front parking underground. With the front parking underground, turn the old parking lot into a park with cafes to service the community.
I am curious what “integration of all transit services serving Union Station and surrounding areas” means?
Better foot traffic flow within LAUS?
Better info displays to inform passengers when next train arrivals are?
How about getting Greyhound to ditch 7th/Alameda and building a permanent terminal on LAUS grounds?
Gut the interior, and modernize it! Add more lighting, and flooring that does not look like vomit! Get rid of all the brown trim, and brighten the inside of it! Union station has the ambiance of a funeral parlor! Having more food and beverage vendors would help also.
Hi John;
I disagree with you on all counts. I think it’s an attractive building but — like many others — believes it needs more amenities for the thousands of people who use the station each day. Also, Metro isn’t just purchasing the station. The agency is also getting the land immediately around the building and a master plan could help guide what (and what not to do) with that land.
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source
I’m with Steve, and the first 2 comments.
Union Station is so rad, gutting it would be an epic fail. I can see MAYBE adding lighting…but I really like it now.
Union Station is part of Los Angeles’ history and cultural heritage.
It is a beautiful place and I can’t imagine why anybody would want to gut it.
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They should change the management of Traxx Bar and Restaurant. The “owner” is a joke and has made that place not very nice…
There is a lot that they can do to clean it up, and modernize it, but still maintain all the historic charm. They should also develop a short term and long term vision. Short term they need a lot more next train signage throughout the building. There is not reason why you shouldn’t be able to see an arrivals/ departure board from the waiting area, and from within Traxx bar. Also under consolidated management get rid of the study “boarding gates” that amtrak uses, they just waste space. The other priority enhancement would be more ticketing machines, and improve the platform speaker system. You can’t even make out what people are saying.
But I do agree that the station will have to develop a long term master plan in order to integrate HSR and all the other services coming in and out of there. And they should definately redevelop the parking lot in front into additional bus drop offs so that the station has transit feeding into both ends of the concourse.