union station master plan –task 1 briefing

1 Union Station Master Plan –Task 1 Briefing

2 Project Overview

Project Status

> Master Plan Team Selected in May 2012 > NTP in July 2012 > 24 Month Process > Market Study Concurrent w/ Master Plan > Work Organized into 3 Tasks > 4 Board Staff Briefings (1 in Task 1, 2 in Task 2, 1 in Task 3)

3 Project Overview

Timeline

4 Task 1 Subtasks

Major Task 1 Subtasks

> Data Collection and Analysis > Stakeholder Outreach > Synthesis and Conclusions in Technical Memoranda > Refined Goals and Objectives > Resulting Program Definition

5 Data Collection

Data Collection and Analysis

> 17 Consultants of Various Disciplines Studied Site and Context -  Transit activities compiled

-  Pedestrian flow patterns analyzed -  Bus and rail capacity reviewed

-  Current High Speed Rail plans studied -  Linkages to adjacent neighborhoods and L.A. River evaluated -  Bicycle amenities assessed

-  Historic and cultural monuments adjacent to site mapped -  Physical mapping and survey of site

6 Data Collection

Distribution of Ridership

7 Data Collection

Distribution of Boardings and Alightings

Red Purple

8 Technical Memoranda Findings

Weekday Boardings and Alightings

Service Existing (2012) Forecast (2040) % Growth Metro Red/Purple Line 42,500 58,000 36% Metro Gold Line 21,500 31,500 47% Metrolink/Amtrak 33,200 56,000 69% Bus 19,000 19,750 4% TOTAL Ridership * 116,200 165,250

* Ridership does not include High Speed Rail

High Speed Rail

18 - 25,000 Sources: 2012 ridership data from Metro & Metrolink

2040 forecast from Metro Systems Analysis & Research Unit High Speed Rail forecast from CHSRA

9

Site Context

Data Collection

10

Points of Interest

Data Collection

11

Historic Resources

Data Collection

12 Data Collection

Existing Conditions – The “Tunnel”

13 Data Collection

Existing Conditions – Passenger Concourse

14 Data Collection

Existing Conditions – Amtrak Queuing

15 Historic LAUS

Historic Site Organization

16

Data Collection

Station as Developed Today

First 5 L.A.

Mozaic Apartments

MWD Headquarters

Metro-Owned Property

17 Data Collection

> Adopted in 1996 w/City of L.A.

> Almost 11M sf. of entitlements; 7M sf. entitled to Union Station property

> Almost 6M sf. still available for development at Union Station

> All entitlements may not be used

> Flexible entitlements and floor area transfer allowed

Metro-Owned Property

Alameda District Specific Plan

18 Stakeholder Outreach

Stakeholder Outreach

> Over 50 stakeholders interviewed during 17 small group sessions

-  Metrolink -  Amtrak -  CHSRA

-  Metro Bus Operations -  Metro Rail -  LADOT

-  LAX Flyaway -  Greyhound

> Public Planning and Operations -  Metro -  Morlin

-  L.A. City Planning -  L.A. County Planning

> Meetings with Major Transit Operators

-  El Pueblo -  Chinatown -  Little Tokyo -  Arts District -  Boyle Heights

-  Bicycle, River and Historic Preservation Advocates

-  Downtown Business Groups

-  Performing and Visual Arts

Organizations


Stakeholder Outreach

> Over 200 attended December 2012 Community Meeting (which also had good participation on live streaming on web)

> More than 2,000 responses received from Union Station Transit-User Survey

> Community Advisory Council convened to continue stakeholder engagement throughout project


Main Issues We Have Heard From Stakeholders

> Wayfinding needs to be improved > Connectivity to surrounding neighborhoods is important > Maintain ongoing community involvement in the process > Improve movement through the station; make transfers between

transit modes easier > Space should have a civic quality rather than a commercial one > The historic building should be repurposed so that it is used > There are opportunities to showcase performing and visual arts

groups in Union Station

21 Technical Memoranda

Technical Memoranda

> Existing and Future Transit Operations, Access, Circulation and Parking

> High Speed Rail > Existing Land Use, Regulatory Plans > Site Context > Historic Resources > Development > Infrastructure and Geotechnical > Sustainability and Building Systems > Opportunities and Constraints


Transit Access/Circulation/Parking

>  Conventional Rail (Metrolink and Amtrak)

-  Transit boardings are forecast to grow, increasing demand for more frequent rail service

-  Previous development did not accommodate expansion of rail service

-  Gold Line took the place of one platform -  HSR could further impact number of platforms -  SCRIP (So. Cal. Regional Interconnector Project) may increase capacity

by 40% to 50% which will relieve immediate needs



> Metro Rail -  Additional access required to accommodate future light rail line(s)

-  Location of Gold Line results in yard planning constraints -  Connections between Gold Line and Red/Purple Line are

non-intuitive -  Regional Connector will relieve some pressures on Union Station



> Bus and Shuttle Operations

-  Bus operations on and adjacent to the site are disjointed

-  Two bus plazas and 4 perimeter bus stops serve Union Station -  Perimeter bus stops serve 60% of bus boardings but have few

amenities -  Cesar Chavez/Vignes stop serves as many people as Patsaouras

Plaza

-  Private vehicles impede bus operations with passenger drop-offs on Patsaouras Plaza

-  Substantial passenger confusion is caused by split bus operations and poor wayfinding



> Vehicular Access, Circulation and Parking

-  Difficult to find access to parking garage

-  The highest access is off of Vignes where the greatest interaction with Patsaouras Plaza buses also occurs

-  Garage is difficult to understand – poor wayfinding -  Site’s 4,000 parking spaces are only 75% to 80% utilized -  Almost 8,400 parking spaces are located within a ½ mile of Union

Station



> Pedestrian Access and Bicycle Circulation

-  Bicycle facilities and amenities are substandard

-  Planned bike lanes on Cesar Chavez will create additional bicycle/bus conflicts

-  Bus/pedestrian conflicts at Patsaouras Plaza -  Passenger tunnel nearing capacity at peak -  Motorized carts in tunnel add to congestion


Massing of HSR Station per CHSRA Potential Layout Historic Union Station

Gateway Headquarters

High Speed Rail

> Currently planned HSR alignment assumes elevated platform and passenger facility above the existing Union Station yard

> Detailed architectural solution not yet developed by HSR > Concepts provided by HSR need to be re-evaluated to address

issues for transit use, historic preservation and development > Coordination of planning is taking place with CHSRA


Pedestrian Linkages

>  Industrial uses and municipal “back of house” uses at the perimeter > Existing pedestrian connections to surrounding neighborhoods are

compromised

> Perceived disconnect from nearby cultural destinations > Perceived disconnect from downtown due to 101 Fwy crossing > Disconnect with Little Tokyo and Arts District created by transit and

freeway


Development

> Physical size of useable property is at odds with the scale of entitlements

> Several of the accessible development parcels on west side of station are already developed by others and are not owned by Metro

> Public industrial uses on North and East do not support mixed-use

development > Overbuilding the tracks could unify the site but will add costs

30

Refined Goals

>  Accommodate variety of transit modes now and into the future

>  Create an iconic place of extraordinary design as the transit hub for Los Angeles County

>  Enhance and protect the historic station through appropriate repurposing

>  Establish development opportunities that support Union Station’s transit role

>  Ensure flexibility to allow plan to adapt to changes in transit

>  Improve access and connectivity for pedestrians and bicyclists

>  Incorporate sustainable best practices

Refined Goals

31 Program Definition

Program

> Transport Optimization

- Transit Operations

- Passenger Experience - Access and Circulation

> Destination -  Programmatic Uses for the Site

-  Historic Station Revitalization -  Sustainable Development

> Connectivity -  Linkages to/from the Site and Surrounding Areas

-  Mobility and Open Space


Transport Optimization

> Transit Operations

-  Incorporate SCRIP to increase station capacity by 40-50%

-  Allow for expansion of commuter and intercity rail tracks and platforms

-  Co-locate buses and shuttles -  Eliminate use of private vehicles on Patsaouras Plaza -  Separate bus and auto garage access

-  Allow for and integrate HSR while mitigating historic, site planning and potential construction impacts on Union Station



> Passenger Experience

-  Improve pedestrian and bicycle access and amenities

-  Reconfigure eastern and western entrances for visibility and accessibility

-  Create new larger multi-modal concourse -  Provide intuitive wayfinding and seamless transfers



> Access and Circulation -  Maximize access by expanding pedestrian flow capacity with wider or

additional tunnels / bridges -  Provide on-site and off-site connectivity

-  Improve the comfort and safety of walking -  Provide visible, safe, and scalable bicycle facilities and amenities (bike

share, storage, and service)

-  Provide accommodations for car share and other rental facilities


Destination

> Programmatic Uses for the Site

-  Program to support transit functions creating an identifiable, vibrant, 24/7 destination

-  Create demand by becoming a market driver

-  Potential uses may include a mix of: o  Flexible commercial, cultural, and social incubator lofts o  Integrated education and research facilities

o  Event, exhibition, institutional, and professional spaces o  Markets, restaurants and retail venues o  Hotel, residential and work/create/live areas

o  Exercise, sports, games, therapy/health zones o  Community focused activities


Destination

> Historic Station Revitalization -  Reuse and repurpose historic Union Station building and courtyards

-  Preserve and restore the primary defining historic characteristics -  Comply with Historic Structures Report

-  Require that the new elements have a level of quality equal to or greater than the historic station

-  Develop a clear legibility of architecture, entrances and access


Destination

> Sustainable Development -  Provide a wide range of flexible programs to generate long-term

sustainable development -  Ensure a high level of access to light and air

-  Reduce resource impacts of construction and maintenance of buildings

-  Integrate new site-wide waste, water, energy, and logistics networks

-  Provide self supporting landscaping and surfaces


Connectivity

> Linkages to/from the Site and Surrounding Areas

-  Increase the level of access and connectivity to, through, and from Union Station

-  Facilitate linkages over the freeway, to the Los Angeles River, and surrounding neighborhoods

-  Link on-site development with community projects -  Encourage streetscape improvements around and beyond the edges

of the site


Connectivity

> Mobility and Open Space

-  Develop clear pedestrian and bike routes through the property

-  Provide openness and approachability to the perimeter -  Plan for a series of open spaces that will link indoor and outdoor

programs to each other and surrounding neighborhoods

40 Key Conclusions

Key Conclusions

> Transit operations are the top priority, before all other considerations

> There are more demands on site than can be accommodated > Strategic decisions have to be made on the best use of available site

area

41 Next Steps

Next Steps

> Preliminary draft alternatives in mid-April > Community Workshop on May 2, 2013 > Revised alternatives mid-summer 2013 > Alternatives presented to Board in September 2013

union station master plan –task 1 briefing

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