Pedestrian View Of Los Angeles: Fillmore Gold Line Station Remodel Almost Complete

Pedestrian View Of Los Angeles

This blog focuses on rail lines in LA country that exist, are under construction or under consideration. The Californian high-speed rail project and southern CA to Vegas project will also be covered. Since most of the relevant developments in the news, rail websites and blogosphere take place on weekdays, this blog will be updated primarily Monday through Friday and occasionally on the weekends. Your comments, criticism and suggestions are encouraged. Miscellaneous stuff will also appear here.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Fillmore Gold Line Station Remodel Almost Complete

May 24, 2010 · 1 Comment

The remodel of the Fillmore Gold Line station is finally wrapping up as large red planters, new vegetation, seating, bike racks, and other aesthetic improvements have been successfully implemented. The fencing around the new public plaza and walkway should be coming down soon, and the simple yet dramatic improvements will give the station a fresh new look that is sure to be a welcome change to an area with increasing demand for pedestrian-oriented enhancements.

Personally, I think it is a waste of potential that the area surrounding the Fillmore station (especially along Arroyo Pkwy) has not taken advantage of such a great light-rail station (even closer to Downtown LA than Del Mar or Memorial Park stations and only one stop to South Pasadena) by incorporating more mixed-use developments adjacent to the station (like the CVS and strip mall just right off the station). Higher density residential developments adjacent and near the Fillmore station would allow more residents the choice to have easy convenient access to light-rail public transportation.

As Metro continues to expand our rail network, more and more destinations will be added that will make existing rail stations even more attractive to live and work next to (something that many people are not aware of or can’t even imagine happening in LA). For example, the future Downtown Connector would allow someone to hop on the Gold Line in Pasadena and get to the heart of Downtown LA without having to transfer at Union Station (with proposed stations at 2nd/Broadway, Disney Concert Hall, and 5th/Flower). Or how about the Wilshire Blvd. subway that would allow someone in Pasadena to get to LACMA at Wilshire/Fairfax or Century City and UCLA for business meetings or dinner engagments?

Imagine the speed and convenience those completed lines would offer to transit riders to access some of LA’s most significant venues and destinations to both residents and visitors? And don’t forget it’s a vice versa situation as people would be able to access Pasadena with the same reciprocal ease.

With that future transit system in mind (funded by Measure R), it makes me cringe when I see parking lots next to train stations that dilute the walking experience by spreading things out. People prefer walking in compact environments because we all walk at about 3/mph.