However, the birth of Union Station was not without its scandal and political maneuvering. In 1938, the Old Chinatown was relocated from the Union Station’s current location to another location less than a mile away. The decision to move an increasingly relevant network of businesses and entertainment centers—built for and by the Chinese Settlers—was not wholly without accusations of racial prejudice. Also, anti-railroad sentiment entered the fray. The outcome: Los Angeles New Chinatown is celebrating its fifth decade, and the Los Angeles Union Station co-exists next door.
The forties saw an uptick in ridership during World War II. Thousands of soldiers would travel out to defend their country against Evil, and leaving sunny Southern California to do so. One can imagine the tearful goodbye’s and hand-wringing as the trains left out of Union Station. During the 70’s, Amtrak started many long distance rail routes. These connected Los Angeles to Seattle, Chicago, and New Orleans. I can remember my own family cross-country Amtrak train trips to New Orleans when I was a child. There is no other way to see the Great United States of America—looks VERY different than from our television screens.
The Los Angeles Union Station began expanding to light rail commuters in the 1990’s. Connecting Los Angeles County, Orange County, Inland Empire, and the Valley—commuters from all over Southern California could now travel with ease. Whether for work or pleasure, these light rails also connect to major bus lines as well. Public Transportation in Southern California was rebounding from the apathy of the 70’s, as larger swaths of the population elected a cool ride over a cool… well, ride. However, there was a mass exodus to the suburbs, and families would travel into Los Angeles mainly for work purposes.
Los Angeles City Metropolitan Authority (Metro) purchased Union Station in 2011, and wasted no time in setting forth its visions of the future.
Union Station today is a major hub for the Los Angeles commuter, and boasts upwards of 60,000 boardings a day. It houses Amtrak, Metrolink, Metro Rail, and a variety of bus systems. One can start in Downtown Los Angeles, and head to San
Diego, or Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, or San Bernardino—with no more than a reasonably priced ticket. However, Union Station is not relegated to being just a mover of people, it also enjoys being a central point to several cultural communities that surround it—from Olvera Street to New Chinatown to Little Tokyo to an explosion of Downtown Los Angeles’ exciting new nightlife. Union Station champions these efforts by being a focal
The Present
Photo by Lands of Void
Photo by Lands of Void
39 - Ceres Magazine - Winter 2016