Good News Coming to Willowbrook
The Rosa Parks Station renovation project received a major boost Tuesday with a $38.5 million grant from the California Transportation Commission. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will oversee the construction of the project, which is expected to cost between $40-$45 million. The station is the 4th busiest in Los Angeles County with more than 30,000 riders a day. Built more than 25 years ago, the station will be transformed from its current outdated layout to a more user friendly, safe and modern design. The state grant will also be used to fund traffic signal improvements along the entire Blue Line.
The station’s new configuration will improve commuter access as well as bring a focus on better security with improved lighting, a Sheriff’s substation and improved streetscapes to make it more rider friendly. The master plan, which was approved in 2011 by the Metro Board, will also have a central plaza and pedestrian access to the nearby shopping center on Wilmington Avenue.
“I am grateful to the state’s transportation commission for this support which will go a long way towards funding this very worthy project,” said Supervisor Ridley-Thomas, who assumed the Metro Chairmanship role July 1. “The riders that use this station deserve to have first class amenities and services. I look forward to beginning the hard work of renovation and making this station a gem among Metro’s stations.”
The overall improvements include:
- A platform extension with a shade canopy, signal improvements and a new at-grade pedestrian crossing for the Blue Line. New elevators, escalators and stairs for the Green Line will be built.
- Better lighting and improved pedestrian access for all riders.
- A new Metro Customer Service Center as well as a transit security facility and a Sheriff’s substation.
- A bike hub.
- More parking.
- New civic art to decorate the station.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2017 and is expected to be completed by 2018. The Rosa Parks station renovation project is part of nearly a $1 billion investment that seeks to improve the quality of life for the Willowbrook community by promoting health and wellness, economic development opportunities, job creation and improving public safety. Already, more than $650 million has been invested in the MLK Medical Campus, which houses the new MLK Community Hospital, Outpatient Center, a Center for Public Health and Mental Health Urgent Care Center and plans for a new senior housing complex with a new library have also been approved.
