Pretty much exactly a year ago, we learned that two subway stations in Downtown LA were getting new modern station canopies (courtesy of Metro) that would make the portals both more visible to riders (especially visitors unfamiliar with LA’s transit network) and to help protect the escalators and entryway from the elements. A year later, the two downtown stations — Civic Center and Pershing Square — have now completed construction on the new oval-shaped glass canopies.

Designed by New York-based architect firm STV Incorporated (collaborating on the new WTC transportation hub), the new canopies provide a stronger identity for LA’s subway stations, giving them not only a practical purpose, such as providing ample illumination at night for higher visibility and safety, but also elevating the status of LA’s burgeoning rail network at the same time. As many now know, LA has big transit ambitions with current rail construction projects totaling almost $12 billion (including the $6.3 billion Westside Subway Extension). That puts us at #2 in the entire country only behind New York with $20 billion in rail construction.

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