Pico (Los Angeles Metro station)
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| Pico (Los Angeles Metro station) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Pico |
| Type | Los Angeles Metro Rail light rail station |
| Address | Pico Boulevard & Figueroa Street |
| Borough | Los Angeles, California |
| Owned | Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority |
| Line | A Line |
| Platforms | 1 island platform |
| Connections | Los Angeles Metro Bus , DASH , Big Blue Bus |
| Structure | At-grade |
| Parking | None |
| Bicycle | Bicycle racks |
| Opened | 1990 |
Pico (Los Angeles Metro station) is an at-grade light rail station on the A Line in downtown Los Angeles. Situated at the intersection of Pico Boulevard and Figueroa Street, it serves commuters, visitors, and attendees traveling to cultural institutions, sports venues, and commercial districts. The station connects to multiple surface transit routes and lies within walking distance of several major Los Angeles landmarks and civic destinations.
Location and layout
Pico station is located on Figueroa Street between Pico Boulevard and 12th Street in the South Park neighborhood of Downtown Los Angeles. The facility features a single island platform flanked by two tracks, with curbside boarding areas and signal-controlled crosswalks at Pico Boulevard and Flower Street. Surrounding arterial roads include Grand Avenue and Hope Street, providing multimodal access to nearby skyscrapers such as the U.S. Bank Tower and cultural sites like the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Pedestrian pathways connect the platform to bus stops serving 7th Street/Metro Center and light rail transfer points at Pershing Square station and Civic Center/Grand Park station.
Services and connections
Pico is served primarily by the A Line light rail, offering north–south service between Avenida Pico adjacent corridors and the Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center direction during scheduled hours. On-street connections include multiple routes operated by Los Angeles Metro Bus, regional express lines such as Foothill Transit, municipal services including DASH and Big Blue Bus, and intercity shuttles that stop on Figueroa Street. Bike-share and micromobility hubs near the station link to Expo Line corridors and Union Station via feeder bus routes. Fare integration uses the Tap card system managed by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority with elevators, ramps, and tactile paving meeting accessibility standards set by Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 guidelines.
History and development
The station opened in 1990 as part of the original alignment that later evolved into present-day light rail operations under the management of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The corridor has antecedents in historic rail and streetcar projects including the former Pacific Electric Railway and the Los Angeles Railway, which shaped transit patterns along Figueroa Street. Major development phases included renovations tied to the A Line modernization program and streetscape improvements coordinated with the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council and redevelopment initiatives by the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles. Construction milestones intersected with citywide projects such as the 2008 Summer Olympics legacy planning and later transit expansions influenced by ballot measures like Measure R and Measure M.
Station design and artwork
Architectural elements at Pico integrate functional urban design with public art commissions overseen by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Metro Art program. The platform canopy, seating, and wayfinding signage reflect influences from regional designers who have worked on projects near Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Los Angeles Convention Center. Art installations reference local cultural histories linked to institutions such as the California Science Center and art centers along Grand Avenue, while materials and color palettes resonate with nearby landmarks like the Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena) and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Lighting and safety features conform to standards promoted by the Federal Transit Administration.
Ridership and operations
Pico handles substantial weekday ridership driven by commuters, event attendees, and tourists accessing venues including LA Live and Microsoft Theater. Service frequency varies by peak and off-peak schedules published by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, with headways adjusted for major events at Crypto.com Arena and conventions at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Operations coordinate with Los Angeles Police Department transit units and Los Angeles Fire Department Emergency Medical Services for crowd management during high-demand periods. Ridership trends have been influenced by downtown residential growth, commercial development, and metropolitan transit funding decisions enacted by bodies like the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors.
Nearby landmarks and access points
Pico station provides pedestrian access to entertainment and cultural clusters including LA Live, Crypto.com Arena, Microsoft Theater, the Grammy Museum, and the Los Angeles Convention Center. Cultural institutions such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the The Broad, and the MOCA are within a short transit ride or walk. Civic and educational destinations accessible from the station include Staples Center environs, the CSULA shuttle corridors, and shopping districts along Figueroa Street and S Flower Street. Multiple entrance points and crosswalks link to bus stops on Pico Boulevard and pedestrian plazas that interface with nearby mixed-use developments spearheaded by entities like AECOM and local development firms.