Regular riders of the L.A. Metro, rejoice: the dimly lit, red-brick interior of the 7th Street/Metro Center Station will be replaced with updated “floor and ceiling finishes, lighting, security equipment, and customer information/communication equipment” in time for the 2028 Olympics. The upgrades, which were first announced in 2023, moved forward again in late September when they received an official CEQA exemption – meaning they are environmentally sound and the work may proceed.
Gensler renderings show a significant transformation of one of the older light rail stations in Los Angeles, which originally opened in 1991. Banks of bright fluorescent lights will replace the largely unlit ceiling, which currently features occasional, visibly aging spotlights. The red-brick tile, meanwhile, will be swapped out for a smooth, light-reflecting flooring similar to what is currently on display in the newer downtown A and E line stations that were opened in 2023. The painted-on yellow line indicating how close pedestrians should stand to the arriving trains on the platform will be replaced with raised yellow coverings. Even the street-level entrance of the station will be brighter and more welcoming, with clearly visible and well-lit signage.
As the Metro system has added new light rail lines over the intervening 34 years since 7th Street’s opening, the station has become one of the busiest in the system: currently, the A, B, D and E lines run through the underground portion, in addition to dozens of connecting bus lines above. The influx of visitors expected for the 2028 Olympic Games will only increase the amount of traffic for this crucial hub.
