Pershing Square Metro Red and Purple Line Station

This stop is steps from the Grand Central Market, Angeles Flight and La Cita Bar. If you venture up the hill you’ll end up at The California Plaza and Wells Fargo Center. Both are tourists attractions and have great eateries, sculptures and have farmers markets on Tuesday and Friday

This station is by far my starting point when going home after a day in DTLA.
Nothing really special about it.
As far as it currently is this winter 2015. Comfortably warm temperature inside. All I need when waiting for the Red. Like seeing the tunnel rats that come through the holes under the tracks. Most my complaints really are in regards to fellow riders who play their music loud, smoke whatever they have, or ride their bikes in disregard to the rules in place.

This is a fairly clean, decent station drops you off right in the heart of downtown LA, a block from the Jewelry district as well as the Financial district. Contrary to what most people say, it does not smell like piss or anything else weird. You’re in and out quickly, this isn’t your home by any means.
There are some homeless people by the entrance, but none of them will ever bother you. Many are in their own world, and don’t pay attention as you walk by. Don’t be bothered. Rather, get out and enjoy the beautiful and lively area you’ve been dropped off in (Grand Central Market and other attractions) are less than 5 minute’s walk away.

This stop is acceptable, because it does not start to smell like pee for another 3 stops or so.

It is a hop and a skip from the Skid Row… Most homeless folks don’t bother you. Yes, I’ve been approached by homeless people for spare change. I don’t apologize for not sparing change, but I just say no. I don’t let it bother me. It isn’t their fault for being homeless. It certainly isn’t my fault.
If you are able to not let homeless people bother you just because they exist, then you are going to be fine using this location. It isn’t like you live there… You get on-​and-​off the trains here. Yes, there can be some wait time. It isn’t going to kill you to stand in the same station with the homeless.
It can stink in the station, but not very often. It is kept clean most of the time… There have been several «gross» moments. Nothing that haunts me. This location drops you in the heart of historic downtown LA. It is walking distance to the Grand Central Market, The Last Bookstore, the Perch and the Historic Core’s farmers market held every Sunday to name just a few.

I always want to wash my hands or dunk my whole body in a tank of anti-​bacterial gel when getting on or getting off the metro at this stop on the red/​purple line.
It definitely attracts the most vile characters who don’t necessarily bother you, but very much make their presence known.
What it lacks in general hygiene it makes up for in its location: the center of downtown.

This station is the best for where I have to go, which is usually the Ronald Reagan building or the Office of Administrative Hearings.
What I didn’t know, is this stop comes up in totally different places, depending on which direction you walk. Here are the different places you can enter/​exit the station:
Hill Street/​4^th Street/​Angels Flight Exit (northwest corner)
Hill Street/​4^th Street Exit (northeast corner)
Hill Street/​5^th Street/​Pershing Square Exit
As Unilocaler Julie D. stated, there usually are people sleeping on the floor, and the smell of pot as you come up the Hill Street/​4^th Street Exit.
Best bet is to just be aware of your surroundings.

Smelled like pee and couldn’t really take me anywhere I wanted to go. If you’re in la, bring a car.

This is sure a nice way to get downtown from the valley!

This Red Line Station is I’m the heart of Downtown LA, Major Bus routes at street level going to other parts of the city and any other city outside of Los Angeles. However this station is sketchy, smells like piss, weed, and bums often congregate and frequent the area around the station so watch your back, also LASD is there sometimes but not often enough. I’d give this station 5 stars but it’s down to 3 because of the sketchiness and lack of patrols around this station

Interesting station. Usually smells like piss or marijuana or both. Four stars due to the sense of adventure this place instills in you.

I mean, it does its job as a station, but it’s often dirty. When I come in the morning, I often see people sleeping on the floor, even on some of the stairways.
Also, the escalator that leads out doesn’t always work, and it’s a long climb up, particularly if you are trying to avoid passed-​out people who smell like urine. Once you emerge, you are greeted by the strong smell of pot on most days. This is the only station that I’ve received unwelcome comments (nothing to do with how I’m dressed mind you; mostly I’m dressed at nun-​level, lol).
I’m pretty sure I saw a drug sale there, from afar, right in the middle of rush hour. Also, I once saw police holding down a screaming person who said something about blowing something up. Sometimes, security will be at the turnstyles, a couple of times frisking people.

Because of all the drug activity that occurs at this station, it’s not my favorite. However, the police is doing a good job with trying to get the drug problem under control. Otherwise, this station is just fine like the other Metro stations. I would just warn commuters of drug activity that happens here.

Not much to write about. Just a stop at Pershing Square. The majority of people riding the red line are professionals and not the weirdos you see on the bus.

This review is strictly for the RED LINE!
«Got any spare change?»
You will be welcomed by bums, lucky you! I even got approached by a bum –when I said the standard «i only have my card» line, he responded with «that’s ok, you can buy me a ticket then, it takes cards» WHAT the hell?!
Moving on: this line takes you from Historic DT to Union, all the way to North Hollywood, to LACC to other spots in between. This is my go-​to line. Dealing with traffic in LA is a chore in itself, and if I want to make a trip to H-​wood to get smashed, I know I can ride this and not worry about driving. Also they recently extended the hours on Fri & Saturday nights till 2AM — Shut the front door, YES! This means I can party in Hwood and not have to worry about leaving early or taking an expensive taxi ride back home. Of course I love taking this any random day of the week, even if it’s for a mini field trip to another part of LA.
Note that this is Public Trans, which means you will find CHARACTERS on each and every ride. Bring your headphones and you’ll be set!
/​/​$ 1.50 a ride (which the ticket lasts a couple hours)
/​/​$ 5.00 All Day Pass
/​/​There are a few other options which I don’t remember the prices too, like if you will be transferring lines and what not.
/​/​Card & cash accepted
/​/​Most ticket stations are up and working

You need to hit Cal Plaza for some food at one of the many eateries, or you work at one of the offices, or you want to enjoy a night on the town, taking in a show from Grand Performances then this is the stop for you.
You need to hit Grand Central Market to do a little grocery shopping or wanting to grab something to eat, this is also the stop for you.

Getting off at Pershing Square is like stepping into a time machine programmed for travel into the 80s with all of the neon and tiling. It reminds me of the underground BART stations in SF for some reason.
Overall the interior of the station appears clean; the entrances/​exits are questionable. Use this station for Pershing Square of course, the Jewelry District, and the LA Public Library.

Station that puts you right in the heart of happenings downtown.
Lacks the art of most stations — well — maybe that isn’t fair to say — its white and neon all over and hey, I loved the 80’s too. Also feels like the center of the Death Star, oh that can’t be good. So yeah, Metro art curators — get on it and improve this station!
Don’t touch anything, walk with confidence and keep moving!

I like that when you exit the Pershing Square Metro station, Perch is right next to it. Also, Pershing square of course!!! Pershing square is the hub of a few cool activities. Right now, there’s Downtown LA on Ice! In April there’s the International Pillow Fight Day!
This station is kind of scary at night. It is pretty deserted. And there’s a lot of riff raff upstairs. But it’s not that bad. Let’s just say, it gets the job done. –_​_​_​–

Yep, it’s an underground Metro station.
Nothing really stands out about this place except it’s a convenient place to catch a train in the middle of downtown Los Angeles. It would be nice if the trains ran later, though!