Union Station Master Plan
Project Info
News
Issue Updated
Wed, 10/06/2021 - 5:45pmIn 2018, Metro released its Final Environmental Impact Report and its Final Environmental Impact Statement in 2020 for the Union Station Master Plan. Construction of the future high-speed rail concourse, planned to begin at the end of the decade, will occur at the rear of the property without significant adverse impacts to the historic train station. The Conservancy has advocated for preserving Union Station's integrity since 1995 and was involved with the current Master Plan process.
In 2011, Metro purchased the iconic Los Angeles landmark from the Catellus Operating Limited Partnership with the goal of accommodating current and future transit needs, such as high-speed rail and creating greater connectivity with surrounding neighborhoods while protecting and enhancing the historic Union Station.
The master plan encompasses approximately 38 acres, including the 161,000 square-foot terminal building, outdoor patios, and railroad tracks. In 1996, the approved Alameda District Specific Plan established development rights that now allow Metro to build up to 5.9 million square feet of new construction.
In 2013, Metro released a series of Draft Alternatives that begin to assess opportunities for passenger concourse, bus terminal, and high-speed rail. The Metro Board of Directors approved moving the Union Station Master Plan from planning to implementation in October 2014, and the environmental review process is currently in progress.
For more information, please visit Metro’s Los Angeles Union Station Master Plan website.
When the Conservancy commented on the proposed development entitlements for the Alameda District Specific Plan in 1995, we opposed the demolition of Union Station’s historic service wings and loss of other historic fabric. We also raised concerns with the scale, massing, and siting of new construction proposed for the site, including the now-built Metropolitan Water District headquarters in terms of encroaching on and overwhelming the historic station.
The Conservancy believes some of these issues remain relevant today and should be considered as part of the master plan. We believe that Union Station can and should be both a working transit station while honoring its role as a historic and cultural resource for the city of Los Angeles.
The Conservancy has participated in the Master Plan development process and submitted comments on the Draft Alternatives in July 2013. We will continue to review the project as it moves toward implementation.