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LACMTA releases Draft EIR of Union Station improvements

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) has released its Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Los Angeles Union Station Forecourt and Esplanade Improvement Project.

The project is planned to enhance pedestrian and bicycle access to and from Los Angeles Union Station and reestablish the connection between the station and surrounding communities. The project will focus on perimeter improvements to improve pedestrian safety, accessibility and connectivity. LACMTA says the Draft EIR analyzes all environmental areas, including aesthetics, land use, recreation, transportation and traffic, among others. Active Transportation Program grant funds that contain federal monies have been secured for the project.

LACMTA's blog, The Source, reports that "the goal of the project is to better connect the largest transit hub in Southern California to the surrounding neighborhood — Chinatown, El Pueblo State Historic Park and Olvera Street, in particular — and make the station easier and safer to reach for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists."

The project includes widening sidewalks, reconfiguring and expanding the pedestrian entrances to Union Station, expanding the pedestrian plaza on Los Angeles Street, moving tour bus parking and converting the north parking lot in front of Union Station to a park and civic space.

The public has until Sept. 25 to comment on the Draft EIR and can submit comments via e-mail or U.S. mail.

Original author: Mischa Wanek-Libman, editor

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