LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA
CLIENT: Metropolitan Transportation Authority, MTA
COMPLETION DATE: 2009
RESPONSIBILITY: Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning, Community Outreach

The Eastside Light Rail Transit Project, a 6.5 mile light rail system to East Los Angeles is the continuation of the Pasadena Gold Line project from Union Station to its terminus at Pomona/Atlantic Station. The system includes the design of the new 101 Freeway Bridge Over-crossing, the L.A. River Historic Bridge Over- crossing, four miles of At-Grade guide way including 6 At-Grade Stations (Little Tokyo Arts Dist., Utah Street Station, Indiana Avenue Station), 2 and 0.5 miles of Underground Tunnels including 2 Underground Stations (Boyle Avenue Station, also known as Mariachi Plaza Station and Soto Street Station).

BPI was a joint-venture partner with Parsons Brinckerhoff, Quade & Douglas, Inc. and Jenkins Gales & Martinez, Inc. On this project, BPI was the lead architect, with Frank Villalobos, in charge. Frank provided oversight on all eight stations designs. In addition to providing exceptional architectural station designs, BPI also provided Urban Design criteria and landscape architecture designs that include a stamped concrete guide-way and theme trees at each station throughout the entire At-Grade portions of the light rails system. Raul Escobedo was responsible for oversight of the Urban Design and Landscape design effort.

BPI was also responsible for leading the Community Outreach effort on this project that included providing a database for all the businesses and residents along the entire 6.5 miles system route. The work included a close working relationship with the MTA planning staff, coordination of a monthly community meeting with the Resident Advisory Committee (RAC), coordination of Community Informative meetings, and preparation of an Eastside LRT newsletter. Barrio Planners also lead the comprehensive Community Outreach program for this project.