Westwood/Rancho Park station
| Company type | Light rail station |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | West Los Angeles, California |
| Products | Light rail transit services |
Westwood/Rancho Park station is an at-grade light rail stop within the Los Angeles Metro Rail network, situated at the intersection of Westwood Boulevard and Exposition Boulevard in the Rancho Park area of West Los Angeles, California. It operates on the E Line and offers transit connections to the UCLA campus through the Big Blue Bus Rapid 12 and Route 8 services.
Although legal attempts were made to prevent its construction, these challenges did not succeed (refer to the Opposition section).
Station layout
Positioned along Exposition Boulevard just east of Westwood Boulevard, Westwood/Rancho Park Station lies between Westwood Boulevard and Overland Avenue. This stop caters to the upscale Rancho Park community, located south of Westwood and southwest of Century City, and is conveniently close to the Westside Pavilion shopping center.
The final environmental impact report proposed 170 surface parking spots, with a provision to eliminate parking for transit riders except for 20 spaces designated for local residents. In March 2011, the Expo Board endorsed the option to restrict parking. For additional parking facilities, commuters can use the nearby Sepulveda station lot.
Connections
, connections available at this station include:
- Big Blue Bus (Santa Monica): 8, Rapid 12
- Culver CityBus: 3
Opposition
During the Final Environmental Impact Report stage, Metro proposed an at-grade routing of the Expo Line through Rancho Park via the Exposition Right-Of-Way, encompassing Westwood Station. This plan faced opposition from a community organization called Neighbors For Smart Rail (NFSR), which raised concerns about safety and alleged breaches of environmental regulations. Metro and allied organizations publicly refuted these allegations.
On March 5, 2010, NFSR initiated legal action seeking to stop construction on Expo Phase 2. However, the California Superior Court dismissed this lawsuit on February 22, 2011.
Attractions
Adjacent to this station is the Westwood Neighborhood Greenway, a linear park developed on previously unused right-of-way space featuring native plant species.