A multibillion-dollar plan to renovate and modernize Los Angeles Union Station took an important first step last week.
On Dec. 21, construction crews began demolishing existing buildings in preparation for the expansion of Southern California’s historic transportation hub, which will undergo major and ambitious changes in the coming years.
During a daylong shutdown in downtown Los Angeles, crews installed traffic control barriers and began initial preparations for the demolition of a former self-storage facility in the 800 block of East Commercial Street.
Demolition of the building will begin in January and will take approximately six months to complete, according to an LA Metro memo.
Saturday’s work was the first material development on the Link Union Station project, which includes converting an existing rail platform to a “run-through” configuration and constructing a massive bridge spanning the width of Highway 101. It will be done.
Renderings of the Link US Improvement Project at Los Angeles Union Station include a railroad bridge over US 101. (LA Metro via HDR Inc.)
The Link Union Station project aims to renovate the rail and bus depots to improve existing passenger rail service and future-proof it for new services and increased capacity in the coming decades. That’s what I mean.
Union Station was originally built in 1939 and will be one of the major transportation centers for the California High Speed Rail when it eventually reaches downtown Los Angeles. In addition to Metrolink and Amtrak, high-speed rail will enter and exit Union Station using a new bridge over Highway 101, known as the US-101 Viaduct.
Renderings from the Link US Improvement Project show an upgraded and modernized Los Angeles Union Station with improvements for pedestrians and passengers. (LA Metro via HDR Inc.) Renderings from the Link US improvement project show an upgraded and modernized Los Angeles Union Station with improvements for pedestrians and passengers. (LA Metro via HDR Inc.) Renderings from the Link US improvement project show an upgraded and modernized Los Angeles Union Station with improvements for pedestrians and passengers. (LA Metro, via HDR Inc.)
In addition to the new bridge and reconfiguration of the rail platform, other improvements by Link US include new tracks to connect to the elevated railyard, concourse improvements, and new communications, signaling, and safety systems.
But before that happens, workers need to clear space to begin construction in earnest, which will include demolishing the previous storage facility. The work is expected to begin in January and take place Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting. LA Metro officials say some jobs will require weekend shifts.
The California High Speed Rail Authority is a co-sponsor of the project and is helping fund improvements.
