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Among all the cool Metro news we've been hearing, you may have forgotten about the Regional Connector. The connector will stretch from the Gold Line Little Tokyo/Arts District Station to the 7th Street/Metro Center Station, where commuters can then switch to the Blue, Expo, Red and Purple lines without having to go through Union Station. The project is slated for completion in 2021.
One of the stops on this connector will be the 2nd/Hope Station, which is a prime place to be if you want to visit the Broad or the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Planners are pouncing on this opportunity; Metro wants to build a bridge that goes over Hope and connects commuters directly to the Broad from the underground subway. One you get off the train at the 2nd/Hope Station, you take an elevator to reach a platform, and from there you can walk directly to the Broad.
As reported by Urbanize LA, Metro have included new renderings of the proposed bridge in an upcoming presentation they'll be delivering to their Westside/Central Service Council. Past renderings showed a bridge that was pretty utilitarian. The new versions (while no less utilitarian) add a bit more flair to the design. The bridge looks like a literal chain-link, but with a more modern slant. There's also a bit of greenery added into the mix. And, perhaps falling in line with the Broad's play on proportions and spatial awareness (think: that giant table installation), the bridge is slightly bent, forcing us to pay more attention to where we're walking.
Check out these additional pictures of the bridge and the 2nd/Hope Station:
