Plans to renovate and reimagine Los Angeles Union Station has run into a snag after the city of Vernon voiced its objection to the project.
The city of about 220 residents, according to the most recent U.S. Census, will formally voice its opposition to Link Union Station, a multibillion-dollar construction project that would completely modernize and reshape Southern California’s busiest transit center.
The project would include retooling the existing train platforms, changing them from “stub-end” configuration to a “run-through” design which would allow trains to stop at the platform and continue on in the same direction rather than enter the platform and then have to back out.
Link US also calls for a train bridge with multiple tracks that will cross over Highway 101, as well as modernization of the station’s interior and improved communication and safety systems.
The project is necessary because Union Station, originally built in 1939, is set to become one of the primary transit centers for the California High-Speed Rail when that service eventually reaches downtown Los Angeles. It’s already home to Amtrak, Metrolink and LA Metro trains and buses.
As demand for more passenger rail options continues to rise, Union Station will have more trains arriving and departing, meaning the building will need to be updated for modern use.
Environmental documents for the project were released for public comment in June with a deadline to comment identified for Aug. 9.
On Tuesday, the Vernon City Council met to formally oppose the project, citing concerns from local business leaders earlier this year.
The main issue, according to city leaders, is proposed modifications to the BNSF Malabar Rail Storage Yard located within the city. The storage yard is used by the freight company to store and repair trains and cars when they aren’t in use.
Link US project plans call for modifications to another BNSF rail yard near Union Station, which will need to be made to accommodate the new plans for high-speed rail. In turn, the Malabar storage yard will need to be renovated so it can house some of those displaced trains and cars which are currently being held near Union Station.
Among the planned changes to the Vernon storage yard is the closure of 49th Street next to the Malabar Yard to make way for more storage, and a dedicated connection on 46th Street to connect the two affected rail yards.
City leaders say they are concerned that closing 49th Street would hurt local businesses, create traffic congestion and negatively impact emergency response times.
“The proposed closure of 49th Street and the 46th Street Connector, will cause significant traffic impacts,” Vernon city staff wrote. “These two streets are heavily used by surrounding businesses and the closure/modifications will result in issues with traffic patterns, on-street and private parking, and access to loading docks, leading to congestion and delays for commuters and local businesses.”
The closure of 49th Street alone would create “additional blockages” on city streets and would have a “cascading effect” throughout the city’s transportation network, city officials say. These closures would negatively impact local businesses and quality of life for the city’s sparse population.
Approximately 21 businesses would be directly affected, the city claims, with some buildings likely being demolished according to Metro’s current construction plans. City officials say they fear existing businesses could be displaced or forced to close due to the proposed changes in and around the rail yard.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn represents the 4th District of L.A. County, which includes Vernon, but she’s also the new chair of LA Metro, meaning she has stake in both the Union Station plans and the desires of those affected by them.
She says that Link US, like all Metro projects, can’t be successful “if they don’t have the support of the cities they run through.” She told KTLA that it appears Metro had more work to do to address the city of Vernon’s concerns.
The city said it was in the process of providing written comments to LA Metro before the Aug. 9 deadline.
When reached for comment earlier this week, an LA Metro spokesperson said the transit authority appreciated Vernon voicing its concerns in a timely manner and said it looks forward to engaging all of the project’s stakeholders to ensure the Link US project moves forward with full support.
“Our goal is to solicit public comment regarding the proposed improvements in the City of Vernon and respond to each and every one of them,” the statement reads in part.
The spokesperson added that Metro expects to have these concerns addressed with Vernon and others associated with the project and have a finalized environmental document by spring of next year.
Officials for the city of Vernon did not respond to a KTLA request for comment prior to publishing of this story.