Last night, Metro kicked off a scoping meeting for environmental studies for the "Union Station Forecourt and Esplanade Improvements" project. Metro is seeking scoping input for its Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Readers can send Metro their scoping comments at CarvajalE[at]metro.net. The scoping comments deadline is January 31.
For the space in front of Union Station, the project will dramatically reallocate space to give priority given to pedestrians. The parking lots in front of Union Station will give way to a civic plaza with a water feature. The narrow crosswalk across Alameda will be expanded to a 50-foot wide raised crossing. Half of Los Angeles Street will be closed to broaden the pedestrian plaza at El Pueblo. Alameda Street will be reduced from six lanes to four, with space given over to widened sidewalks and a sidewalk-level multi-use bike/walk path along the east side of Alameda. For details and renderings, see the Connect US plan.
Metro expects to complete its environmental studies by this summer, with construction anticipated in 2020.
(Post updated with clearer images. Concept design and drawings by Deborah Murphy Urban Design + Planning with Lyric Design & planning.)
Metro is already installing on-bus cameras. Soon comes testing, outreach, then warning tickets. Wilshire/5th/6th and La Brea will be the first bus routes in the bus lane enforcement program.