Happy 15th Anniversary to the Metro Red Line

[tonyw79sfv]

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the opening of the Metro Red Line with MOS 1 from Union Station to Westlake/MacArthur Park. I was a kid at the time and a Valley boy (as I am now) and Metro Rail didn't take on significance for me until the North Hollywood extension opened in 2000 along with the Orange Line in 2005. I didn't know of its existence at the time although I was familiar with Metrolink since I live near Van Nuys. Anyways, I'm wondering if any of you were witnesses to that historic day when the Red Line was opened by the RTD on the 30th of January 1993. As a daily user of the Red Line, I'm grateful to Mayor Tom Bradley and Julian Dixon for making it a reality for what was then for the future of public transportation (which is now). So happy anniversary, and let's hope we can get the Purple Line going for the future of public transportation, so that the next generation can benefit from it as I do with the Red Line today.

1993 Unfinished East Portal

1993 7th & Metro Center

Photos courtesy of Salaam Allah

[jejozwik]

what is that first station pictured?

[Justin Walker]

The sign appears to say "Welcome to Union Station" at the bottom. Does anybody how that old entrance fit in before the Gateway Transit Center was put in?

That entrance is a visual parallel of this much longer-lasting one in Union Station:



(Picture also by Salaam Allah)

[nicksantangelo]

Tony: Yes, I was there- brought my nieces along. It was packed at 7th/Metro. Great day.

Actually, I went on the inaugural first ride of the Blue Line. Kenny Hahn sat a couple of rows ahead of us.