El Monte
Cruz Baca TransCenter-Baldwin Park is a Metrolink Station that opened as an infill station on May 24, 1993. The station consists of a single platform on the south side of the single tracked line. This platform begins at the grade-crossing where the tracks cross the intersection of Ramona Blvd and Downing Avenue and runs southeast. Across the tracks, just south of the station is Baldwin Park City Hall and the Baldwin Park Historical Museum.
The single platform is along a narrow parking lot (one set of angled parking spaces in the middle of it) that runs along the platforms entire length stretching to Pacific Avenue, additional parking when the station first opened was 1 block east of the station at 14730 Ramona Blvd. This overflow parking lot was replaced by a 501 stall five-level parking garage across from the platform and track. An elevator and staircase lead up to a short pedestrian bridge at the southwest end of the platform. This pedestrian bridge leads to the 4th level of the parking garage which along with the 5th level is reserved for transit patrons, City employees and City Hall visitors park on the bottom 3 levels, with a final secured basement level used by the police department and is completely secured. All parking at Baldwin Park is paid (with the same daily parking price when I visited back in 2012) and costs $3 per day, $10 per month for residents, and $30 per month for non-residents. The former overflow Park & Ride lot is being turned into a housing development. There are a total of 360 paid parking spaces in the parking lot and parking garage for transit riders.
The entire platform is a large scale art piece called Danza Idigenas (Indigenous Dance) by Judith F. Baca, assisted by Siegel Diamond Architecture, that traces the California Mission period to contemporary Baldwin Park. The pavers on the platforms have the layouts of the four missions, closest to Baldwin Park, with the steps of indigenous dances super imposed on them. Quotes in five languages Spanish, English, Gabrielino, Chumash and Luiseno line the platform. At the western end of the platform is an arch that represents the past and present. There are two pots planted with Cactus and Oak (the Oak tree seems like it’s died) representing the Gabrielino and Mexican cultures, that came together to form the mestizo culture which is dominant in Baldwin Park to this day. The design of the seven canopies lining the platform extend to be influenced by this art piece as they are curved, brown, and the roof shape looks like the roof of a Spanish mission.
Photos 1-34 taken on February 26, 2012
