Little Tokyo/Arts District station

Little Tokyo/Arts District station is an underground light rail station on the Los Angeles Metro Rail system which replaced an at-grade station with the same name. The at-grade station was located on the east side of Alameda Street, between 1st Street and Temple Street, on the edge of Little Tokyo and the Arts District in Downtown Los Angeles. The at-grade station opened in 2009 as part of the Gold Line Eastside Extension, and was served by the L Line. The at-grade station closed in October 2020, and the new underground station on the south side of 1st Street between Central Avenue and Alameda Street opened on June 16, 2023.[2]

Little Tokyo/Arts Dist
A Line  E Line 
Little Tokyo/Arts District station platform
General information
Location402 East 1st Street
Los Angeles, California
Coordinates 34.0487°N 118.2387°W / 34.0487; -118.2387
Owned byLos Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Platforms1 island platform
Tracks2
ConnectionsLos Angeles Metro Bus
LADOT DASH
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
ParkingPaid parking nearby
Bicycle facilitiesMetro Bike Share station,[1] racks, lockers
AccessibleYes
History
OpenedNovember 15, 2009 (2009-11-15) (at-grade station) June 16, 2023 (2023-06-16) (underground station)
ClosedOctober 24, 2020 (2020-10-24) (at-grade station)
Rebuilt2020–2023
Services
Preceding station Metro Rail Following station
Union Station
toward APU/Citrus College
 A Line Historic Broadway
toward Long Beach
Historic Broadway
toward Santa Monica
 E Line Pico/Aliso
toward Atlantic
Future services
Preceding station Metro Rail Following station
Union Station
Terminus
 West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor Arts/Industrial District
toward Pioneer
Location

History
Little Tokyo/Arts District station's former at-grade platform, 2009

This area was once a key area for trains in downtown. James M. Davies, for whom the large tract was named, subdivided the area in 1891. Several railroad lines from different companies connected through this site. Davies great-nephew, Robert Davies Volk, was the owner of the lots at 1st and Alameda streets with brick buildings shaped to fit the long-gone rail lines.[3] The structures had played an important role in the cultural life of the Little Tokyo neighborhood for decades before the site was cleared for the future station.[4] Los Angeles Railway P Line yellow streetcars operated on the surface of 1st Street[5] until 1963, including a call at Alameda.

An at-grade light rail station opened at this location on November 15, 2009, as part of the Gold Line Eastside Extension. The station was closed on October 24, 2020.

Little Tokyo Arts District station plaza under construction in February 2023

The new Little Tokyo/Arts District station is underground, located on the west side of Alameda with entrances 500 feet (150 m) south of the original station; it was built as part of the Regional Connector project. The Regional Connector is a light rail tunnel through Downtown Los Angeles that connects the former Metro Rail A, E, and L Lines. The station is served by both the restructured A Line, connecting Long Beach and the San Gabriel Valley, and the restructured E Line, connecting Santa Monica and East Los Angeles. The new station was originally referred to as 1st St/Central in planning documents, but was ultimately assigned the same name as the previous at-grade station.[6] The decision to rebuild the station underground was driven in part by traffic concerns on Alameda and 1st Street caused by at-grade trains.[7] The Regional Connector opened on June 16, 2023.[8]

Preliminary work for the underground station required the demolition of two modest single-story brick store buildings with one of the structures dating back to at least 1898.[4] A series of new developments are being built on the blocks surrounding the station.[9] The above-ground station was briefly closed in early 2016 due to the relocation of tracks for the Regional Connector project.[10] The above-ground station was again closed for the final time on October 24, 2020, and the underground station opened 32 months later. Until the replacement station was completed, a bus bridge operated between Union Station and Pico/Aliso station for those riders traveling along the former L Line.[11]

Beyond the Regional Connector opening, the West Santa Ana Branch Transit Corridor is planned to terminate downtown via a new light rail tunnel to Union Station. The line will feature a new transfer at Little Tokyo/Arts District station, which requires connecting the two subways with new infrastructure.

Service

Station layout
S Street plaza Entrance/Exit, faregates, ticket machines
C Concourse To Entrance/Exit
P Platform level Northbound/
Eastbound		 ←  A Line toward APU/Citrus College (Union Station)
←  E Line toward Atlantic (Pico/Aliso)
Island platform, doors will open on the left
Southbound/
Westbound		 →  A Line toward Long Beach (Historic Broadway)
→  E Line toward Santa Monica (Historic Broadway) →

Hours and frequency

A Line trains run every day between approximately 4:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. Trains operate every 10 minutes during peak hours Monday through Friday, and every twelve minutes during the daytime on weekdays and all day on the weekends. Evening service (after 7 p.m.) is every 20 minutes.[12]

E Line trains run every day between approximately 4:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. Trains operate every 10 minutes during peak hours Monday through Friday, and every twelve minutes during the daytime on weekdays and all day on the weekends. Evening service (after 7 p.m.) is every 20 minutes.[13]

Connections

As of June 16, 2023, the following connections are available:[14]

Notable places nearby

The station is within walking distance of the following notable places:[15]

References
  1. "Station Map". Metro Bike Share. January 27, 2015. Archived from the original on January 2, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  2. Von Quednow, Cindy (June 16, 2023). "Metro Regional Connector opens in Los Angeles, bringing more direct access to downtown". KTLA. Nexstar Media Group. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  3. Fischer, Greg (August 26, 2014). "Tracking Some Early Train History: Upcoming Regional Connector Station Site Played a Key Role in L.A.'s Early Transportation Scene". Los Angeles Downtown News. Civic Center News, Inc. Archived from the original on August 29, 2014. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  4. Zahniser, David (March 15, 2014). "Buildings slated for tear-down were rich part of Little Tokyo history". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  5. H.P. Noordwal (1938). "Route Map Los Angeles Railway Electric Car and Bus Routes" (Map). Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc. Los Angeles Railway. Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021. "Alternate link" (Map). via Google. Archived from the original on January 31, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  6. "Actions taken today by the Metro Board of Directors". February 23, 2017. Archived from the original on May 13, 2017. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  7. "Regional Connector Update". The Source. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on April 30, 2010. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
  8. "Regional Connector Transit Project". Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  9. Sharp, Steven (February 16, 2021). "Mixed-use development quietly breaks ground on the Arts District/Little Tokyo border". Urbanize LA. Archived from the original on February 16, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  10. "Little Tokyo/Arts District Station Closure". Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  11. Hymon, Steve (September 15, 2020). "Bus shuttles to replace L Line (Gold) service between Union Station and Pico/Aliso Station during 22-month closure to complete Regional Connector". Metro. The Source. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  12. "Metro A Line schedule". Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. June 16, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  13. "Metro E Line schedule". Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. June 16, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  14. "A Line Timetable – Connections section" (PDF). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. June 16, 2023. p. 2. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  15. "Little Tokyo/Arts District Destination Guide" (PDF). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved June 8, 2023.

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