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≡ METRO BOARD MEETING ≡
Funding for the proposed transportation support program for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games dominated the discussions during a special Board Meeting on Wednesday afternoon of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
The directors were all well aware that the Trump Administration’s submitted budget for Federal Fiscal Year 2027 did not include the $2 billion requested by Metro, and they all urged continued and intensified lobbying of the Congress to insert appropriations into the final spending bill if possible.
Metro Director of Innovation Seleta Reynolds agreed and explained:
“It is absolutely urgent for us to resolve some funding certainty for the most important investment that remains unfunded, which is the Games Enhanced Transit Service, and having that run as originally envisioned is critical to making sure that we do not have venues that are crowded, private vehicles and TNCs [transportation network companies, e.g. Uber].”
She reiterated that getting GETS funding “is absolutely urgent and we will be in a position where we will have to entertain some really unpleasant scenarios for all of us. If there is chaos at the venues, it will create a strain on law enforcement that will cause them to have to spend valuable and precious time directing traffic and resolving potential crashes, instead of focusing on real core safety and security issues.
“So there is a waterfall of downside risks to not funding GETS as envisioned.”
Of the $94.3 million in Federal 2028 Games transportation funding approved earlier this year, about $89 million is actually expected to come to Southern California. Reynolds said that the spending plan is already in place, for “legacy capital projects that we needed to get done, as well as making he up-front investments on the operational capacity that are also incredibly necessary to serve the Games.”
That includes, specifically, the high-profile – and highest-priority – GETS and the Games Route Network.
Metro’s Government Relations Executive Officer Michael Turner told the Board that Metro staff are continuing to lobby for Federal support; “we have kept up the communication with the Administration, even though we were not included in the budget. Some of this attention now focuses on the appropriations process, and so we are looking to see how we can advance this request through the appropriations process.”
A “drop-dead” date for funding of October 2026 was noted by L.A. County Supervisor and Metro Board member Lindsey Horvath, to know what funding will be available, and it was stated that go/no go decisions will have to be made then if funding is not secured by that time. There is also a hard push in Sacramento to obtain a requested $379.29 million from the State of California in Games-related funding, which should be resolved before October.
LA28 Senior Vice President and head of transportation Bill Panos spoke to the Board and noted that there are shared opportunities for discussions and lobbying “with our chairman. Our Chairman right now, by the way – Casey Wasserman – is back in D.C. as was talked about, actually advocating for money – this transportation funding – right now, and other funding for LA28 as we speak.”
Panos also explained that the venue security perimeters, developed in coordination with the U.S. Secret Service as part of a National Special Security Event, have been decided on a preliminary basis for most of the sites. “As soon as they are established, then we have to look at them, engage with the community and we modify them as we find out more information as we go forward.” He said he’s not involved in the discussions, but also needs the information since the LA28 transit plan will need to work within the determined limits.
It was noted that $1 billion in Federal spending support had been allocated for security for the Games in 2025 and there was discussion about how some of Metro’s Games activities might be characterized in a way which might make it eligible for some of those funds.
On the plan for a water taxi service from San Pedro to Long Beach for the 2028 Games, a request for information is being distributed to see if there are operators who are interested and willing to talk seriously about the project.
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A lengthy presentation on preparations for support services for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup was delivered, with a program costing about $25 million constructed to help riders get to the eight matches at SoFi Stadium, as well as to fan festivals.
A total of 65 borrowed buses have been obtained from transit agencies in California and Arizona, but it was noted that to get each one fully prepped and ready costs as much as $30,000, including replacing or re-treading tires.
The $25 million cost has been covered by grants received from the U.S. government of about $9.6 million – part of a $100 million national grant by Congress – plus $4.4 million from the State of California and commercial sponsorships and expected rider revenue (fares and park-and-ride lots) that is to total about $11 million.
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