Pico station


Pico is an at-grade light rail station in the Los Angeles Metro Rail system. It is located in the South Park neighborhood of Downtown Los Angeles, on Flower Street and Pico Boulevard. The station is served by the Metro A Line and the Metro E Line. The Metro J Line buses heading northbound to El Monte Station stop one block west of the station at Figueroa St./Pico Blvd. Southbound Silver Line buses heading to Harbor Gateway Transit Center stop at Flower St./Pico Blvd.
The full station name is Pico/Chick Hearn. This name memorializes sportscaster Francis Dayle "Chick" Hearn, longtime play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers. On April 13, 2016, the station was temporarily renamed "Kobe" to commemorate professional basketball player Kobe Bryant's last game. Since then, the station is listed on Metro maps as "Pico Station" only.

Service

Metro Rail service

A Line service hours are approximately from 4:00 AM until 1:00 AM daily. Expo Line service hours are approximately from 4:00 AM until 2:00 AM daily.

Metro Liner service

The Metro Silver Line northbound street stop is located at Figueroa Street & Pico Boulevard. The Silver Line southbound street stop is Flower St/Pico Blvd, next to the station. The Silver Line operates 24 hours a day.

Location

Pico station serves the South Park neighborhood on its east, and the Figueroa/Convention District on its west. It is located on the east side of Flower Street, just north of Pico Boulevard.
North of this station is the Flower Street Tunnel, which connects Pico station to 7th St/Metro Center Station via Flower Street. The tunnel's portal is just south of 11th Street on Flower Street. The tunnel will be extended when the Regional Connector is completed in 2020.

Attractions

The station is within walking distance to the following attractions:
Pico is an at-grade center-platform station designed to accommodate Metro light rail vehicles. The station's entrance is on the northeast corner of Flower/Pico.
Metro added gates and flashing lights at this station during late December 2011, as part of a set of safety enhancements that were added as part of the Expo Line project. Access upgrades were added in 2018 due to increased use and development of the area. Metro has held discussions regarding placing the station underground or expanding the light rail capacity in time for the 2028 Olympics.

History

Pico station opened along with the Blue Line on July 14, 1990 and was the site of opening day celebrations. Because the underground portion of the line was not yet complete, this station served as the northern terminus for the line until February 1991 when 7th St/Metro Center Station opened.
During the 2028 Summer Olympics, the station will serve spectators traveling to events at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Staples Center and Microsoft Theater.