186-Space Parking Lot to Open by Red Line Station

A temporary parking lot will open this morning across the street from the North Hollywood subway station.

Located to the west of the Red Line subway station, the lot has 186 spaces. Its boundaries are Chandler Boulevard North, Lankershim Boulevard, Chandler Boulevard South and Tujunga Avenue.

Commuters can park in the new lot after a brief 7:30 a.m. opening ceremony.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority was initially reluctant to create more parking, and officials had urged commuters to get to subway stations by bus, car pool or other means.

Shortly after the North Hollywood Red Line station opened last summer, motorists were often unable to find parking. Many left their vehicles illegally parked along curbs and driveways, and city traffic officials have recently been ticketing some violators.

Parking is often scarce at the Universal City station as well. That shortfall is partly attributed to drivers who park in the lot to go to CityWalk or Universal Studios rather than the subway. This summer, 165 spots will be added to the Universal City subway lot after a road construction project is completed, the MTA said.

*

The new temporary lot in North Hollywood is on a 2.67-acre parcel that is also home to a boarded-up historic rail depot that will be renovated. The 1896 redwood structure was first used as a Southern Pacific train depot, and later as a Red Car station for the Pacific Electric Railway.

Eventually, the MTA plans to use the parcel as a terminus for a planned east-west busway.