L.A. Metro taps RNL for light rail, bus station improvements

RNL has been named the Prime consultant on the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Willowbrook/Rosa Parks Station improvement project in Los Angeles. RNL is the project lead and is providing architecture, urban design, interior design, lighting design, and sustainable design services.

The $66 million project will include upgrading and expanding the 25-year-old station, which currently connects the Blue Line between Long Beach and downtown Los Angeles with the Green Line, which runs from Norwalk to Redondo Beach.

Additionally, a number of Metro and municipal buses and shuttles use the stop. Amenities will be added to enhance the bus facilities, platforms, vertical and horizontal circulation, and will include a new civic plaza, Metro Bike Hub, Metro customer service center and transit security facility. The new station area is expected to expand into the neighboring Kenneth Hahn shopping plaza to provide for better public access to the community and transit facilities.

“As one of the oldest and busiest stations in Metro’s rail system, the Rosa Parks Station is in need of significant upgrades to better serve the needs of our riders and the surrounding community,” said Mark Ridley-Thomas, LA County Supervisor/Metro Board Chair.

RNL has compiled a team of highly experienced transit and building design experts with deep roots in the community, and experience with Metro and other local, regional and national transit agencies to serve on the project. RNL and the design team, along with input from the community and stakeholders, will work to develop the civic plaza and station upgrades to Metro’s specifications and within the budget, quality, and schedule parameters.

Over the next year, Metro and RNL will be working with area stakeholders to finalize the station design.