LACMTA completes Lankershim Depot restoration; All Aboard Florida begins Fort Lauderdale station construction

Los Angeles city, county and transit officials this morning are scheduled to announce a major restoration of the 118-year-old Lankershim Depot in North Hollywood, Calif., has been completed.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) took the lead in restoring the station, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The $3.6 million project involved rehabilitating 70 percent of the original structure, LACMTA officials said in a media announcement.

The project included a new building foundation, roof, electric and plumbing systems, and platform and seismic upgrades. The depot is intended to serve a future active role in the continued growth of North Hollywood as the valley's preeminent transit hub, LACMTA officials said.

Meanwhile, All Aboard Florida officials yesterday marked the start of construction of a new station in downtown Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The groundbreaking event was the first of three South Florida stations that will be built along the company's planned Miami-to-Orlando passenger-rail line.

The Fort Lauderdale station will be located on 4.8 acres adjacent to the Florida East Coast Railway corridor on Northwest 2nd Avenue, between Broward Boulevard and Northwest 4th Street. Located at the northern end of downtown Fort Lauderdale, the station will stimulate a currently underutilized area, driving new visitors into downtown and the surrounding cultural, economic and shopping destinations, All Aboard Florida officials said in a press release.

Targeted as a gateway to the city and Broward County, the Fort Lauderdale station was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP in association with Zyscovich Architects. The station will include a modern, multistory lobby spanning an elevated passenger lounge area for travelers. The location also was chosen to provide convenient connections to the Sun Trolley, Broward County Transit system, future Wave Streetcar and a planned Tri-Rail station.