KTLA News: "Press conference on plans to revitalize Union Station" (1980)

[Mayor Tom Bradley] I'm delighted to welcome all of you, here to historic Union Station. In its glory days, Union Station was one of the gems in the passenger transportation system of the United States. It was also one of the architectural landmarks in the City of Los Angeles. With a change in transportation modes in the last several years, this station has not been used as we knew it in the earlier days. The planning efforts that started many months ago and which has resulted in the, Memorandum of, of Understanding which we will sign this morning, we think can provide for a restoration of, this Union Station as a major, regional, multimodal, transportation center. We believe that it has great potential, ah, to serve the needs, of the intracity and intercity travel. For the bus transportation. For the Southern California Rapid Transit District Center. For the Wilshire Subway, which is now, ah, ah, in it's, ah, preliminary engineering planning stages. For the People Mover, terminus. For the El Monte Busway Terminal. For connection with the major bus lines that are going to be serving this region. We think that this will not only revitalize this center as a, place where the various modes of travel can interconnect, but can provide an additional stimulus to this community. We think that this, [camera noise] planning, [Bradley] was not easy, but I'm telling you that all of the agencies of government have come together to make this Memorandum, [camera noise] [Bradley] and through the federal government, through the City of Los Angeles, [Bradley] Rapid Transit, [camera noise] they can have been come together to work out the arrangement for the acquisition of this forty four acre site. [Bradley] And then to join together and if [camera noise] [Governor Jerry Brown] all had to be here. About six or seven years ago, I had a press conference across the way there and the wind blew the papers away. But the general object was to get the trains moving and the trains are moving between San Diego and Los Angeles. Very soon between Oxnard and Los Angeles. And hopefully between San Bernardino and Los Angeles. Ah, we are experiencing a renaissance in the use of trains. And this station, which the State of California will now take over and actually operate, will be the focal point, for linking trains and buses, and other forms of travel and commute that are essential to making Los Angeles, Southern California and in fact the entire state, thrive. This is a step forward, but it's one that doesn't forget the past, but includes the traditions of this fine building. This center of trains with a forward-looking approach to transportation. I'm very glad to be a part of it and to sign into law very shortly, Senate Bill 654, which will give the, ah, Caltrans Department the authority to actually operate, ah, this facility. The urban centers which have been the source of decay and the object, almost of pity of those living, ah, far, far away, now become the center, of the revitalized urban California and urban America. Thank you, very much. [Ambient room noise] [Brown] It has to be said about Cal Trans is it is now in charge of your local railroad. [Laughter] [Brown] [Unintelligible] master or bizarre. [Male voice] All on the conductor [camera noise] [Caltrans Representative] transportation center. As the governor mentioned, we think that, ah, this action today, [Caltrans Rep] ah, the signing of the memorandum and the signing of the legislation which was necessary for that, is a major first step towards, ah, making, downtown Los Angeles and Union Station the hub of existing and potential future public transit services in the LA area. A lot of individuals, ah, have, and organizations have cooperated in this effort, ah, making the whole thing, ah, possible. Ah, Governor Brown has signed the bill which, ah, allows us to play an active role in multimodal terminals. Senator John Foran, from the Bay Area, was the author of that bill [camera noise] between the state and the local entities. And, ah, we will be, as has been mentioned before, ah, owning and operating this facility under Caltrans, ah, but we will not be doing everything associated with, [camera noise] We intend, and the Memorandum so states, that this be a self-sustaining operation financially, and we think it can be done after a lot of analysis. Ah, the next major step is for us to acqui, to get the necessary funding for the project that will involve funds from several sources. The cost of acquisition is estimated about eighteen million dollars. Hopefully we can get it for less than that. But that's what we're aiming or planning on right now. There would be three primary sources of funding. The State Mass Transit Assistance Act SB 620, would provide, under our plan, 2.2 million dollars. The State Highway Account would provide, 3.2 million dollars and we will be seeking a federal, ah, Urban Initiative grant from the Urban Mass Transit Administration for, ah, somewhat more than twelve million dollars. Our future plans, [camera noise] [Caltrans Rep] a chance to increase those trains up to eight a day, eight round trips. [camera noise] to Seattle. [Caltrans Rep] The Desert Wind which goes to Las Vegas and on into Utah. [Caltrans Rep] The Southwest Limited, which goes to Chicago and the Sunset Limited, which goes to New York. [camera noise] [No audio] [Bradley] Obviously you haven't seen the people who are riding the buses of RTD. You've not seen those who are driving in here on the El Monte Freeway or Busway. You have not seen those who'll be using the People Mover. Moving from one end of downtown Los Angeles to another without congestion stopping them. Ah. [Reporter unintelligible] someone who may be, [unintelligible] Those who ride the buses, and there are more of them, ah, doing so every day with the addition of these new buses that Tom Nielsen has spoken about. Ah, we expect an additional surge of new riders. With the energy crunch hitting all of us, people are going to be encouraged to, use public transit as a means of traveling and to do it more cheaply and more economically in terms of energy. Ah, with the People Mover, which is anticipated to handle some seventy thousand plus people a day. With the subway, the Rapid Transit Line out Wilshire Corridor, which will have its terminus here in this Center. You will have, several, ah, hundred thousand people riding every day. With all of these services, I think that, ah, we're talking not about a special interest group or a special category of people in this community. It will serve the needs of all who have a reason to use public transportation. And those who drive their, their cars in here in order to board these buses or trains, also are going to be served. [Ambient room noise] [Brown] you want to get past her so you can get your money's worth. [Bradley] You sign for me, Governor. [Brown] I'll sign for you. [Unidentified] voice] the arrangements being made. Thank you. [Reporter] Can you speak to, Mr. Reagan's choice for a running mate? [Brown] Well after that initial confusion, ah, I, saw that the selection of Mr. Bush does present some, serious questions. As you know, the interview with Mr. Bush in the Los Angeles Times some months ago, indicated, that he felt that America should be able to wage a nuclear war with Russia, and that not too many millions of people would be killed in the process. I think that requires a great deal of press scrutiny into exactly what his values are and what his attitudes about nuclear war are. I'm very concerned that he may be, ah, just a little, less prudent and cautious than someone that will be standing one heartbeat away from the nuclear trigger. [Reporters talking over each other, unintelligible] Now that we know, now that we know, what, Ford backed out, obviously he would have been stronger, ah, [Reporter] V.P., instead of Reagan's, [camera noise] [Unidentified voice] Those of you who want to go on the tour. The tour starts here. [Unintelligible conversation, background noise] [Unidentified voice, Union Station announcer] West Central [unintelligible] [Announcer] Barstow. [Announcer] Las Vegas. [Announcer] Milford and [?] City. [Crowd noies, unidentified voice] Round the corner. [Union Station noise] [Crowd noise, farewells] [Train noises, wheels clacking] [Street noise] [Unidentified voice] Pardon me boy. But is this the way to Union Station? [Caltrans Rep] We feel it's very important that there be, as I mentioned before partnership, involved and the Memorandum calls for the establishment of a policy board, including the City of Los Angeles and the RTD, that will be responsible for approving all, ah, uses that are made of the facility. An annual budget, [Reporter Mike Botula, News at Ten] Purchase price is eighteen million dollars for the forty four acre facility. [Botula] Even though Caltrans will hold title to it, [Botula] Union Station will be operated jointly by Caltrans, the Southern California Rapid Transit District and the City of Los Angeles. [Botula] It'll be used in a way never thought of by the railroads who built it. [Botula] The future is going to bring a lot of changes for a facility that slumbered for years as a white elephant. [Botula] Built during the golden age of railroading. It's headed yet for another golden age of mass transportation in Southern, California. At Union Station, Mike Botula reporting for News at Ten.