Good news today for Metro: the agency has been awarded two grants from the Federal Transit Administration:
•$25 million for the purchase of new compressed natural gas (CNG) buses. Attentive readers will recall that Metro earlier this year retired its last diesel bus, with the vast majority of Metro buses now powered by CNG, which is far less polluting than diesel.
•$9.6 million was awarded under the FTA’s Livability Grant Initiative for a new station linking the Patsaouras Plaza at Union Station to the Silver Line and El Monte Busway. The lovely rendering above shows what that new station will look like — a big improvement over the existing stop.
That’s a cool-looking illustration for the new bus stop, especially the ramp/ pedestrian bridge from the platform area to the rest of Union Station.
However, it does rather call attention to the blank space behind the plaza. Something ought to go there — shops or the high-speed train tracks or something.
I sure hope that the run through tracks project and whatever the heck HSR is thinking of is being considered by this project. Anything is better standing out on Alameda waiting for a Silver Line or any other bus. Once this happens, some the local bus lines from El Monte need to short turn at LAUS. Silver Line does need to continue trough downtown and head south. I just wonder how many people transfer now from buses to other modes at LAUS and what they are thinking it will increase to after this project.
Moving walkways included?
OK, don’t want to be greedy, just walking along the walkway is going to be cool enough, though the rider experience when first transitioning off Silver Line to Red/Purple was an adventure in self-navigation-absent-signage (especially as it was late at night). Gorgeous illustration btw.
Pingback: Streetsblog Los Angeles » Today’s Headlines
“However, it does rather call attention to the blank space behind the plaza. Something ought to go there — shops or the high-speed train tracks or something.”
More parking for Metro employees. I am sure there is a knock out panel there for a parking ramp.
Pingback: Morning Linkage: Kayaking With Blue Whales in Redondo, Leaded Disneyland | The Fashion Show
The Dude, I can’t tell if you’re being serious or not. But, okay: Build parking, but then put something ON TOP of the parking.
This new station is very nice and definitely elevates the status of the El Monte “busway”(mostly just an HOV-3 lane), and will certainly help a lot with transfers. But to really fix this transit corridor, it really needs to go back to a dedicated bus only lane like it originally was.
Nope, no more parking. Metro employees should be taking public transit to work anyway, not driving there.
The land space would be put to better use for as a larger extension of Union Sta. We need more shops, restaurants, and places to relax.
My wish is for LA Union Station to become more like Shinjuku Station in Tokyo, full of activity like department stores, bakeries, restaurants, you name it.
An airport or mall style food court is desperately needed at LA Union Station.