Seamless pedestrian connection to the Metrolink station

Bob Hope Airport in Burbank unveiled a new transit center this week. The “Regional Intermodal Transportation Center” includes 11 rental car companies and a moving walkway to get passengers to the terminals.

But more importantly, it will feature an easy pedestrian connection to the Amtrak/Metrolink station right across the street from the terminals (see rendering on the right).

Current not-great Metrolink station by the airport

This easy rail connection is why I think Bob Hope Airport could be the high-demand air travel center for the region in the coming years. I’ve flown into Bob Hope and taken Metrolink to Union Station for an event before. It’s a pretty easy trip, but the walk along the airport accessway and across the street wasn’t great (see station photo on the left). Now a smooth pedestrian experience will make that experience much more seamless and efficient.

And more importantly, as Union Station becomes the center of the Metro Rail universe in Los Angeles, coupled with the resurgence of downtown LA, Bob Hope Airport will soon be your gateway for car-free access to much of the region. Even if LAX can get its act together with a people-mover automated train to the Crenshaw Line, passengers will still need to ride the slow Crenshaw line to the slow Expo Line to the Red Line or future Regional Connector to get to Union Station.

By contrast, Bob Hope will offer a faster, direct rail connection, without the hassle of the LAX craziness. So in the coming decades, I wouldn’t be surprised if Bob Hope may be your airport of choice for LA.