Universal City Red Line Station

Please install more machines and/​or help the tourists with the tap cards. It would speed up the lines waiting to load up fares on the cards. I would carry a balance on my TAP card but they can expire, and I do not ride often enough. Overall wished there was more help at that station. I was late waiting for the tourists to figure out the machines.
And on a side note METRO, please add TAP machines at the airport and the main bus stop at LAX.

So this article came out about people being sexually harassed and raped on the metro. It’s not just me. The last time I was in this station a man stood over 3 women including me sitting and waiting and said you are all pretty. Then he sat next to me and stared at me. He said are you ok? What would posses a person to hit on 3 women at once and ask a total stranger if they are okay. I was literally reading my phone sitting there. It was so odd.
He kept staring at me. I walked away because it was so creepy. Then when I was at this station the next time, another man hit on me.
This station is not handicap friendly as the escalators are broken all this week.

It is very very very challenging to find a parking spot. Huge parking lot. However, many parking spots are reserved for «paid permit»!
Also, it is hard to find the entrance of the station, no visible sign?

There are signs that said you cant park there for universal studios or else your car will get towed. A solution to that? Park on the street!

The Red Line station here in your drop off point for Universal Studios, Citywalk and North Hollywood/​Studio City. Probably the one stop that is always frequented by all due to the stops at this location.
Yes, they do have free parking nearby if you happen to be driving and wish to use the metro to save gas like most of us here in L.A. do! Yes the walk up to Universal Studios can be hectic and quite the workout, but you do get a nice view of the San Fernando Valley. Luckily, Citywalk provides visitors with a shuttle that will take you up and down the hill, free of charge. I do believe that the shuttle runs until an hour before closing of Citywalk, so try to not miss your shuttle if you are visiting.
This station has escalators and elevators for your usage, as well as stairs, which I often take. Oh yeah, Poquito Mas is a walking distance from this station. Just go down Lankershim and its on the corner by Cahuenga Blvd. Take advantage of the shuttle and the free parking when you come here.

I’ve been taking the red line for two months now and I’m torn. I love the convenience. I paid for the monthly parking, so it’s easy to park. (If you don’t have monthly parking — get to the station before 8am and park in the overflow lot on Ventura.) It only takes 25 minutes to get to downtown. While the majority of riders of the red line are normal people on their way to work or whatever, this line seems to get a lot of crazy people on it. I’ve seen a homeless guy bring his shopping cart full of recyclables onto the car. Why can’t they have some attendants at each of the stations? I think it would help more people in LA to give up their cars for longer commutes if it felt safer.

I love this station! Lots of free parking and trains run every 10 minutes in the morning and at rush hour. It makes it really easy to get downtown or to Hollywood. This station is new and clean and there’s usually a security guard there.
It is also very convenient for the Hollywood Bowl concerts!

Love this station! Plenty of free parking. There are overflow lots are on Ventura Blvd BTW. Clean station. There is usually security on the driveway or wandering about. A clean, safe and cheap way to get to Downtown or Hollywood.

How do I review a metro station? Can I even give it less than 5 stars? It does exactly what it’s supposed to do… Maybe the place outside of the underground smells like piss all of the time but what can you expect?
In all seriousness, the Universal City stop is a nice metro spot for good reasons. It’s the red line. It goes places fast. One stop to Hollywood. And there are several buses that stop right outside the entrance above ground. It’s a conveniently placed and centralized stop placed between the valley and downtown LA. You can get anywhere very quickly from here.
What I can say about this metro station is probably the same thing about all others as well. Maybe the Hollywood/​Vine station is not as conveniently located as others but what can I really say? Watch out for hobos? Double thumbs up?

A great place to park you car all day long in broad daylight so scrap metal thieves can steal your catalytic converter while you are at the office. Patrolled by cops? You bet! They slowly drive through the lot looking for cars with expired tags and write tickets for them. But the scrap metal thieves, homeless peeing guys, and crack-​smoking trash are never bothered by them.

You can go anywhere from here in the valley, you can get to LA, you can get to Long Beach, course you’re going to use different transfers… Great hub get to Universal City and there’s always plenty of protection around

I used to take the red line from No Ho, but my husband suggested to try Universal. Wow! Why haven’t we done this before? It’s actually a couple of minutes closer drive. The parking lot is so nice and clean with plenty of free spaces on the weekend. And it’s a few minutes closer to our destinations. Barring any unforeseen issues, this will be my red line station of choice in the future!

How have I not discovered this loop hole of money saving???
Perfect place to park for FREE then walk down the street a little and you’ll reach the front of the Universal building. There, you’ll find a shuttle that will take you up their hill and to the front of Citywalk. Skip the traffic of going into Universal Studios AND that $$ payment to park in their lot.
The shuttle runs until one hour after closing. Most weekends, last ride is at midnight. I love this!

I like this station because it’s literally universal lol. If you commute around or work in the valley it’s perfect. But you have to come early if you plan on finding a park Mon-​Fri.
I like the fact they it’s right down the hill from CityWalk. So skip the parking prices. You can just hop on the train, cross the street and get on a shuttle and your on your way. This station does stay pretty busy so there can be some congestion during rush hour. Overall it’s not bad at all.
Not too many authority figures lurking checking Tap cards. So you don’t feel like your under surveillance 24 – 7 and pulling out proof of fare every time you exit. This station is cool.

It’s my go-​to way to get downtown and back. Parking can be a little tricky during the week. Now, if only the country’s metro plans would get smart and use the identical cards and turnstiles, and settle up electronically with each other based on actual rides. Some day, when I rule the world, Los Angeles and NYC will have but a single Metrocard.

Coming from the East Coast, I’m used to hopping on the (Boston) T or just walking because everything is literally a ten minute walk. Not here, my little grasshopper. My inner East Coast got me freaking out how I was going to get to to Staples Center without getting on the 405. A friend told me to use the metro and my first thought was, «LA has a metro?»
Anyhoo, I made it to this station and I love the fact that there is plenty of FREE PARKING! The station itself is actually pretty clean and efficient. Got myself a brand spanking new TAP card, got to 7^th Street and switched, ended up at Pico station which is right by the Staples Center. Sweet.
Good thing that it closes at a reasonable time (12? 1? 2?), I got a little lost riding back home, but made it back home in one piece.

I have to preface my review with saying, I am from New York City so I have extremely high standards for public transportation.
I do drive and I do own a car but I LOVE the idea of just sitting back and taking public transportation if and only if it is convenient.
At one point I used to try and take public transportation from Studio City to Brentwood which required me to take 2 buses and took about 2 hours.
I try (pretty miserably I may add) to take public transportation from Burbank to Studio City and it takes pretty much the same amount of time as it took me to get from Brentwood to Studio City! Why? I take the blue bus to North Hollywood train station which is easy breezy. Once I arrive at Universal Red Line Station I sit for about 20 – 30 minutes every. single. time. I have lived in Studio City for about 4 years now and every time I have arrived at the Red Line Station I have to sit for about 20 – 30 minutes while about 6 bus drivers sit and take breaks. I’m not sure if it is poor schedules or people not being on time or on task but its redic! I could have driven home and driven back to burbank in the time that it takes me to get home from Burbank on public transportation.
The MTA really needs to step it up.

How to get from West LA to Universal Studios:
1) Park [for free] at the Expo Station in Culver City and take the 7:30am train toward Downtown LA.
2) Transfer at 7^th St/​Metro Center to Red Line going to Hollywood.
3) Get off at the Universal City/​Studio City station by 8:30am.
4) Cross the street for the free Universal Studios Shuttle to avoid hiking the massive hill.
5) Get into the Park by 9am.
6) Enjoy your 0 – 10 minute wait times on Transformers and the Mummy!
Your welcome!

Now open late– walking distance from my house– $ 1.50 each way to Hollywood, Downtown, and ton of other places that I’ll likely never go to!
Public transportation has it’s drawbacks– scary drunks, the occasional brawl, creeps being creepy and staring at you, people who cough like they have the swine flu, people who smell like they live with swine… but at least you can avoid that DUI!

Coming to the San Fernando Valley?! There is one spot where you can rely on the Metro Red Line to take you to: Universal Studios Hollywood/​Citywalk. All you have to do is take the Red Line and get off at the Universal City Red Line Station.
Universal Station is one station before and after North Hollywood Station. It is located right across the NBC Universal Corporate Building and Studio Gates on Lankershim. For those who are headed to Downtown Los Angeles for work, you can park here and take the stress free Metro Rail. Like many Unilocalers have mentioned, parking spaces do fill up during the week. There are passenger loading zones for easy drop off and go. There is taxi service, but you’ll guaranteed to find one at Universal Citywalk.
There is a Bus Depot as well that travels throughout the San Fernando Valley. Consult
for Schedules and Timetables. You can watch a movie at Universal CityWalk or visit the New Transformers Ride that opened in May 2012. I am happy that Metro built a Red Line Station because without the Red Line, it would be difficult to get in and take the free tram up to Universal.
So, if you are ever on Metro Rail, think about coming to Universal Studios and have fun in the San Fernando Valley. Drop the car and let someone drive for you.
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