Baldwin Park
Covina was one of the original 2 intermediate stations Metrolink Stations to open on Metrolink’s opening day on October 26, 1992 when service began on the San Bernardino Line from Los Angeles to Pomona. The station is along a two-tracked portion of the line, and consists of two side platforms that begin 100 feet east of the grade-crossing of Citrus Avenue and run east, with a fence running between the tracks. This grade-crossing provides the only entrance to the track 2 platform.
The Track 1 platform is along the "Station Lot" with 226 parking spaces, worthy of east coast commuter rail cities parking is this lot is by permit only and all permits are currently sold out. This parking lot has a single entrance on Citrus Avenue alongside a small pedestrian plaza between the parking lot entrance and the platform. The rest of the station’s 881 parking spaces are inside a four-story parking garage that was built in 2005. This garage is located across Citrus Avenue 675 feet southeast from the platforms and requires passengers to head one block south from the station to Front Street and walk past an auto mechanic before reaching the garage. Parking in the garage is $2 per day and also has monthly permits available.
Both platforms have small, simple brown canopy structures placed along them and regular intervals. The Track 2 platform has five, the track 1 platform seven. Both platforms have ornate looking green lampposts. The track 1 platform has some other amenities including Bike Station Covina that is a fully enclosed shed in the middle of the parking lot that provides secure bicycle parking. In the middle of this platform at a small passenger pick-up area are also bike racks in the shape of Oranges (which is on Covina’s city seal). There is finally a British-style phone booth with the pay phone on the outside not on the inside, where it should be.
Photos 1-27 taken on February 26, 2012
