Del Mar station
| Industry | Public transportation |
|---|---|
| Founded | July 26, 2003 |
| Headquarters | Pasadena, California , United States |
| Products | Light rail transit service |
Del Mar station is a ground-level light rail stop on the A Line within the Los Angeles Metro Rail network. Positioned between Arroyo Seco Parkway and Raymond Avenue along Del Mar Boulevard in Pasadena, California, the station occupies the location of the historic Pasadena Santa Fe Depot, whose 1935 structure remains intact.
Located at the southern boundary of Old Town Pasadena, the surrounding area has been developed with transit-oriented development, including an apartment complex built above the rail tracks that forms a tunnel for passing trains.
The light rail facility commenced operations on July 26, 2003, as part of the original Gold Line (previously known as the "Pasadena Metro Blue Line"). Since June 16, 2023, it has been served by the A Line following the inauguration of the Regional Connector.
Del Mar station supports important local gatherings, notably due to its closeness to the Rose Parade route on Colorado Boulevard, drawing numerous visitors during events. Additionally, it showcases public artwork titled Kinetic Energy, created by artist Ries Niemi.
Railroad station
Pasadena was incorporated into the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway transcontinental route in 1887. The original station featured Victorian architectural elements, including a tower, weather vane, and scalloped shingles.
In 1935, a new depot was built in the Spanish Mediterranean style—a single-story white stucco edifice with green accents and a red tile roof. Designed by architect H.C. Gilman, it included ceramic tile decorations crafted by Pasadena artisan Ernest Batchelder.
Pasadena functioned as an important stop for Santa Fe's flagship intercity streamliners such as the Super Chief, Chief, and El Capitan, attracting wealthy visitors from the East Coast and Hollywood celebrities.
On May 1, 1971, Amtrak took over passenger operations from Santa Fe, leasing the depot from Santa Fe Pacific Realty Corp. for its Southwest Chief and Desert Wind services. The Desert Wind route was altered to pass through Fullerton on April 27, 1986.
Conversion to light rail
In the early 1990s, ownership of Pasadena's rail lines was transferred from Santa Fe to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority for development of the Gold Line project, initially named "Pasadena Metro Blue Line." Eastbound Southwest Chief trains were rerouted to the San Bernardino Subdivision on November 28, 1993; westbound trains followed on January 15, 1994, marking the end of Amtrak service to Pasadena and Lua error: expandTemplate: template "Amtrak stations" does not exist..
During construction of the light rail infrastructure, plans were made for transit-oriented development at this location. The development encompasses 347 residential units, a subterranean parking facility with 1,200 spaces serving both Metro riders and residents, public plazas, retail outlets, and a comprehensive restoration of the historic Santa Fe Depot.
To facilitate construction of the underground garage, the historic station building was carefully segmented into three parts and relocated offsite in 2001 for preservation. It was subsequently restored and adapted for use as a restaurant by 2003.
The underground parking structure opened in April 2003; shortly thereafter, in July 2003, the light rail line began service; finally, the mixed-use development was inaugurated in June 2006.
Subsequent Developments
By 2007, the 600 underground parking spots managed by Metro were largely underused, primarily occupied during weekdays. Metro leased the surplus parking space to a local car dealership group, whereas nearby garages in Old Town Pasadena frequently reached full capacity on weekends. In that same year, the City of Pasadena acquired Metro's ownership stake, making the garage accessible to both daily commuters and retail patrons.
On June 16, 2023, this station became part of the A Line network following the inauguration of the Regional Connector tunnel.
Transit Connections
As of , available connections include:[1]
- Amtrak Thruway: Route 19 (located four blocks away to the east at Hilton Pasadena, 168 South Las Robles Avenue)
- ArtCenter College of Design Shuttle (exclusive to students and staff)
- Foothill Transit:
- Los Angeles Metro Bus: , , (NoHo-Pasadena Express), ,
- Pasadena Transit: Lines 20, 33, 51, and 52
References
- ↑ "A Line Timetable – Connections section" (PDF). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 15, 2024. p. 2. Retrieved January 1, 2025.