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≡ METRO BOARD ON 2026/2028 ≡
A special Board meeting of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Agency has been called for Wednesday, 14 January, with significant updates on the agency’s planning for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The agenda and accompanying materials reveal striking changes in the plan Metro has been talking about for several years:
● The plan to use 2,700 buses to support the 2028 Games has been slashed to 1,747 – down 35.3% – thanks to the announcement of the comprehensive sports schedule and the relocation of some venues closer to existing transit.
Moreover, the presentation notes, “Over half of the required buses have been secured.”
● A publicly unannounced “term sheet” was signed in September with the LA28 organizing committee, and Metro staff met with International Olympic Committee representatives last year to review the plan for the “Games Enhanced Transit System” (“GETS”) for spectators and volunteers at the Games.
However, funding for the GETS system, estimated last year at $2.015.7 billion, has not been secured as yet and efforts will continue for assistance from the Federal government.
● The Metro Board will consider a proposed application for a loan – not a grant – from the U.S. Department of Transportation for a list developed last September of “Priority 1″ projects dealing with (1) specific line upgrades, (2) upgrade program at Union Station in downtown Los Angeles and at the 7th Street Metro Center station and a (3) fare modernization program to allow easier payment of fares.
The loan request will be made for funds from the Federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA), for $270 million. If granted, the loan would fund “2028 Games Customer Experience Improvements” at downtown L.A. stations and the Games Metro Mobility Hubs.
The Metro Mobility Hubs project was estimated at $80 million in November 2024, but the tab is now shown at $90.7 million, of which $45.86 million has been obtained already.
● Funding has been committed from the Federal Highway Administration’s Congestion Migration and Air Quality (CMAQ) improvement program and Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) program, and the California Transportation Commission, totaling $143 million, that also funds first mile-last mile projects such as walking and bike lanes and signage to the venues.
Smaller programs costing almost $25 million are planned for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with seven matches to be played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, most of which is for expanded shuttle services.
Observed: The reduction by more than a third of the bus fleet for 2028 is welcome news, but as the presentation notes, there is still much funding to be sought. The original estimate of $2.015.7 billion is perhaps $330 million lighter, but still expensive and needs support.
But the report also indicates that other local and regional transit agencies will help and that Caltrans is involved to help with the “Games Route Network” to ensure spectators, as well as athletes, media and officials, can get to the venues on time.
There is a long way to go, but there is a better grip on what Metro actually needs to do in 2028. Hopefully, more details will be shared on Wednesday.
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