Eric Richardson () on June 15, 2011, at 12:14PM – #3

Here's more on the station / turn-back from a June 2010 board report:

An alternative to the 6th street station location would be developing potential future public access to a conceptual turn-back facility. The turn-back facility is included in the Westside Administrative Draft ElR/ElS currently under Federal Transit Administration review. The turn-back facility is under consideration as a method of expediting Metro Red/Purple line trains reversing direction from East to West at the eastern end of the Red Line. Currently this function is performed at Union Station. However the Westside Extension Subway Project anticipates two minute peak service in the subway section (trunk) between Union Station and the Wilshire/Vermont Red/Purple Line Station in 2035. "Turning back" the subway at Union Station at two minute headways may be impractical without a separate turn-back facility. An alternative turnback facility at mid-Division 20 near the main service building-north of the Fourth Street Bridge, is under consideration and has been conceptually designed as part of the Westside Extension Subway Project. This design includes the necessary revisions to track layout, relocation of some service facilities, switches, and control systems to ensure the smooth operation of revenue trains and safe separation of the yards from service tracks. This design would potentially construct half of the improvements to the Street location as part of the Westside system improvements.

The mid-Division 20 turn-back location is likely a more cost effective and usable alternative for public access given the adjacency to Metro's maintenance facilities at the same location, proximity to the proposed Metro Santa Fe Joint Development Project and the existing Sci-Arc School of Architecture. Much of the basic infrastructure necessary for a future public access station would be in place as part of the turn-back facility for the Westside Extension Subway Project However, additional improvements would be required for public use such as: improved public access bridges / escalators / elevators, landing / queuing areas, fire/life safety improvements, fare vending equipment and public inforrnation/address systems. Staff will preserve potential public access options to any Westside Extension turn-back facility design.

That's from this PDF: