Metro Unveils Station Design for Regional Connector

By Damien Newton
Aug 23, 2012

Screen Shot 2012-08-20 at 10.58.35 AM — What entrances to the Regional Connector could look like. Lots more images after the jump...

(Public meetings for the connector continue today at the Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St.; 1 to 3 p.m., Aug. 28, at the Colburn School, 200 S. Grand Ave.; and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Aug. 29, at the Japanese American National Museum, 369 E. First St. Project information is at metro.net/projects/connector.)

At last night’s outreach meeting for the Regional Connector, Metro finally released its station drawings for the four new train stations that will be built as part of the Connector project. Looking at the renderings, it’s hard to see what exactly about these drawings required such secrecy that Metro refused to show them to press even after a briefing for Metro Board Members.

Before analyzing the station design, we should note that this is not the final design, but just the most recent thoughts on how the stations could and should look. Opportunities exist for artists to personalize the stations somewhat, as we’ve seen with both the Expo Line Stations and the Orange Line Extension Stations are also forthcoming.

After the jump, we’ll look at each station, starting with the Little Tokyo Station and provide some basic thoughts.

Little Tokyo Station (1st and Central)

Screen Shot 2012-08-20 at 10.55.36 AM — No matter how many times I look at this, I get distracted by the blue sky.

Screen Shot 2012-08-20 at 10.55.21 AM — Looks pretty standard, not anything surprising.

Screen Shot 2012-08-20 at 10.55.14 AM — From the other angle

Screen Shot 2012-08-20 at 10.54.40 AM — Ground level platform location overhead shot.

Screen Shot 2012-08-20 at 10.55.05 AM — Entrance location on the platform.

Bunker Hill Station (2nd and Hope)

Screen Shot 2012-08-20 at 10.45.36 AM — The 2nd and Hope Street Station is also known as the Bunker Hill Station in some environmental documents.

Screen Shot 2012-08-20 at 10.45.55 AM — The station will serve many trip generators as well as provide connections to those seeking rail to more far flung places.

Screen Shot 2012-08-20 at 10.46.35 AM — The station platform has a pretty standard design with stairways or elevators needed to access to the entire station.

Screen Shot 2012-08-20 at 10.46.47 AM — No surprise, plans for the station have access from the street down escalators to the platform area. Looks like the plan is to have the TAP machines before the escalators.

Broadway Station, aka “Historic Core” (2nd and Broadway), “Single Entrance”

From The Source: This station will have a station entrance at the intersection of 2nd and Broadway. The site consists of only a parking lot adjacent to the Los Angeles Times building and is possibly available for a new development. An entirely new secondary station entrance could easily be incorporated into any future building designs on the Spring Street side of the station. The block between Broadway and Spring streets is about 400 feet long — a very short walk.

Screen Shot 2012-08-20 at 10.57.18 AM — Maybe this will get more Times employees to Go Metro?

Screen Shot 2012-08-20 at 10.58.18 AM — From a different angle...

Screen Shot 2012-08-20 at 10.48.39 AM — Aerial View of 2nd and Broadway Surface Station

Screen Shot 2012-08-20 at 10.49.32 AM — Above ground layout within the above ground platform

Screen Shot 2012-08-20 at 10.49.45 AM — The layout going down

: The alternate angle

Broadway Station 2nd Entrance