North Main Corona
Riverside - La Sierra was one of the original two new stations that opened when Inland Empire/Orange County Line service began on October 2, 1995. The station lacked direct service to Los Angeles and was designed to serve commuters living in Riverside County going to the office parks of Orange County, signs on the westbound platform still have Irvine as the only destination. This changed in May 2002 when the then-named 91 line entered service between Downtown Riverside and Los Angeles Union Station following the route of Amtrak's Southwest Chief that passes through this station without stopping, and served all previously existing stations.
The station consists of two side platforms along the two-track BNSF Transcon line. These two platforms begin just east of the La Sierra Avenue bridge over the railroad tracks and interchange with the 91 Freeway. This freeway runs parallel, just north of the station. The platforms each have 4 shelter structures for waiting passengers that cover benches, These have circular green roofs.
All access to the station is from the south, track 2 platform. Here a driveway runs along the length of the platform that includes a Kiss and Ride and bus stop for the two bus connections which are for the Riverside Transit Agency Route 15, and OCTAs Route 794 weekday express route that runs to the South Coast Plaza Area, near the route of the IEOC Line. All access into the station is from a central driveway with trees that leads straight into the center of the platform from Indiana Avenue. The driveway becomes Grande Vista Parkway after the station's 4-way intersection, traffic light entrance.
On each side of this entrance driveway are parking lots with 1,082 total parking spaces. Between the parking lot and Indiana Avenue are the Metro Gateway Apartments, a recently built, transit-oriented development. The parking lot entrances have gates that are closed by a full time security guard (who has a booth near the platform entrance) overnight from 10:00pm to 4:00am.
All access to the north platform for Riverside-bound trains are via a fully enclosed pedestrian bridge with elevators and staircases connects the two platforms. The bridge is fully enclosed by glass with each side forming a gentle arch adding additional architectural detail. Silver lettering on the bridge says Riverside La Sierra. At the eastern end of the platform is a pedestrian grade-crossing with lights and bells. This crossing is normally closed by a locked gate between the tracks (which have a fence running between them); but can be opened to maintain ADA accessibility when pedestrian bridge elevators are out of order.
Photos 1-39: 21 December, 2019
