Patsaouras Transit Plaza
| Company type | Transit hub |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | Downtown Los Angeles, California |
| Products | Bus station services |
Patsaouras Transit Plaza is a bus station situated on the eastern side of Los Angeles Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles, adjacent to the El Monte Busway. It was initially called Gateway Transit Plaza before being renamed in honor of Nick Patsaouras, a former board member of the Rapid Transit District and a prominent advocate for public transit.
At the northern end of the plaza stands the Metro Headquarters Building.
Metro and municipal buses
The plaza serves as a hub for various transit providers, including:
- Los Angeles Metro Bus
- Antelope Valley Transit Authority
- City of Commerce Transit
- City of Santa Clarita Transit
- Foothill Transit
- Hollywood Bowl shuttle
- LADOT Commuter Express
- LADOT DASH
- Shuttles for Mount St. Mary's College
- Shuttles for University of Southern California
Nearby stops also accommodate:
- Big Blue Bus (Santa Monica)
- Greyhound Lines
- J Line
- Silver Streak
- Torrance Transit
LAX FlyAway
The LAX FlyAway service offers direct, nonstop transportation between Union Station and Los Angeles International Airport. Buses operate every 30 minutes from 5 am to 1 am, with hourly departures throughout the overnight hours. Tickets can be purchased at a kiosk located at the southwest corner of the island platform, using bus bay #1.
Long-distance motorcoach
Amtrak California runs several routes under the Amtrak Thruway brand from designated bays on Union Station’s north side, close to the Subway sandwich shop; these services do not operate from Patsaouras Transit Plaza.
Greyhound Lines boards passengers at Patsaouras Transit Plaza. Meanwhile, FlixBus departs from the Vignes lot across the street, positioned northwest of East Cesar Chavez Avenue and North Vignes Street.
J Line platform
A dedicated transitway station was constructed in the median of the El Monte Busway south of Patsaouras Transit Plaza to serve the J Line and other bus services such as the Silver Streak. This project experienced multiple delays and budget overruns before completion.
This facility allows buses traveling in both directions along the busway to efficiently access Union Station, significantly reducing passenger wait times. A pedestrian bridge directly links Patsaouras Transit Plaza with this busway station, replacing the previously long walk across Union Station grounds to reach the former stop at Alameda.
Construction commenced in early 2017 but was halted on April 24, 2018, due to discoveries of archaeological and Native American artifacts. After nearly one year of investigation, work resumed in May 2019. The station officially opened on November 1, 2020.
With a final cost of $51 million—more than twice the initial budget—the project was financed through toll revenues generated by the Metro ExpressLanes project alongside a federal grant from the U.S. government.