Reported by Paul Dyson, with PHOTOS!
Monday, May 4, was the 70th anniversary of the opening of Union Station. This view is 20 years old (Noel Braymer photo)

L.A. City Council member Tom LaBonge, who is a great promoter of passenger rail and of the city, made sure that the occasion was honored with a ceremony at Union Station. There was excellent local media coverage.

Pictured (L to R) Art Leahy, LACMTA CEO;
Keith Millhouse, Metrolink Board Chairman; L.A. City Councilmember Tom LaBonge;
Lynn Berberian, Amtrak SW Division passenger superintendent; Paul Dyson representing RailPAC and NARP; L.A. City Councilmember Jose Huizar, whose district includes Union Station; Schezel Pough, Station Manager; Dorothy Perez, Tom LaBonge’s staff person and a daily Metrolink commuter through Union Station.

Union Station on May 4, 2009. Looks the same, but it’s who is inside that differs!

Paul Dyson thanked the Coucnil members for reminding Los Angeles citizens of the architectural gem in their midst. But he suggested that they didn’t come and see it during the rush hour because they would be bowled over by the thousands of people that now use the station. “You would not recognize the place from 25 years ago. Who said we couldn’t get Angelenos out of their cars?” said Dyson.