In a vast county with miles of transport, the 2028 Olympic and Paralympics traffic leaders’ plans rely on a robust bus fleet to get people in and out of venues and avoid traffic meltdowns.
The plan comes down to a $2 billion request to lease around 2,400 buses to the Trump administration to lease around 2,700 buses. However, it is about three years before the opening day, and the plan faces several challenges in terms of funding and time.
The federal government has not yet responded to city requests. Metro’s commitment to leasing clean energy buses can also pose supply issues and challenges with regard to infrastructure charging. Operators must also be trained under state regulations and provide housing through the game.
“Three years may seem like a lot of time for many of us, but in the city’s time, three years are like a flashing blink, and that’s our biggest challenge,” said Daniel Rodman, a member of the city’s city’s leading event office at the recent UCLA Transit Forum. “It’s time for my father.”
The game is scattered throughout the region, including Aramitos Beach in Long Beach, Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, LaColicium and Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, out-of-county in Anaheim and Dodger Stadium in San Diego County. Official watch parties and fan gatherings also occur throughout the metropolitan area. Because these and many venues are not directly accessible by rail, the bus system is key to the city’s push for “transit first,” where city leaders had previously adopted a message about Mayor Karen Bus over the “car-free Olympics.”
The bus system is key to the city’s promotion of “transit first.”
(Gabriella Angotti-Jones / Los Angeles Times)
Outside the bus system, several transport projects under work are expected to ease some of the traffic burden, including the extension of the Metro D line, also known as the purple line that the Metro is due to be completed before the Olympics, and the opening of an automated people mover train at Los Angeles International Airport. There are also suggestions for using water taxis from San Pedro to Long Beach. Several events are held here, offering alternatives to Vincent Thomas and Long Beach International Gateway Bridge.
The big question is whether enough people in famous cars bound cities are willing to visit public transport. Leaders believe that tourists are likely to take advantage of the system, and they also want more Angeleno.
“All our international visitors know how to ride public transport. That’s a second nature for people coming from other countries,” said Janice Hahn, the county supervisor and metro director, pointing to the recent UCLA Forum and the long use of the Paris Olympics and the city’s public transport. “It’s Angelenos that we’re still trying to attract, so I think legacy by bus or train that can be translated to people on the metro after the Olympics will be a good experience.”
Los Angeles leaders warned of massive traffic congestion ahead of the 1984 Olympics. Competitor at the time, Pat Russell encouraged residents to leave town and many Angelenos rented homes for visitors. According to the Times Archival Report, if the city fails to resolve its transport plans, the experience would become a disaster and encounter a similar fate as the 1980 Winter Olympics in New York.
“Of all the issues we face with these Olympic games, transportation is the most certainly and inevitable disruption unless we get people’s cooperation and support to coordinate the use of personal vehicles.” A few months ago, he warned that traffic jams could be very bad and that people will be forced to dump cars on the highway.
110 highway traffic in downtown Los Angeles during the 1984 Summer Olympics.
(Michael Montfort / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images)
In the end, a catastrophe was avoided. The plan was similar to today’s plan. We have built a robust bus system to shuttle Olympic fans, athletes and leaders.
Traffic plans that relied on an additional 550 buses to support a fleet of 2,200, could temporarily turn one-way and limited delivery delivery, or because people left the area ahead of the game due to close predictions of a full gridlock, traffic was manageable, even if it was due to traffic plans.
But rapidly, Los Angeles’ population has grown from nearly 8 million in 1984 to 9.7 million today, with the region expecting millions of viewers than its last game. Estimates for the total number of expected visitors remain vague, but planners expect more than 9 million ticket holders than the 1984 Olympics.
“There are mountains to move around. If you move a year and a year, it’s much more difficult within three years,” said Juane Matute, deputy director of the UCLA Transport Institute. “Bus is hard enough to get, but all of these policy and regulations changes can be difficult too.”
Metro has received lease commitments for around 650 buses so far. Vehicles aside, it takes time to properly train, test and accredit bus operators and operate public transport in the state, Matsute said. It will take an estimated 6,000 additional bus operators to drive people across the game. Metro said these operators are expected to be provided through transport that rents buses.
The latest state budget proposal will focus $17.6 million from the state’s highway fund on Olympic and Paralympic plans, including the Metro’s Game Route Network, designating a set of roads for travel by athletes, media members, officials, International Olympic Committee, spectators and workers. However, city and metro leaders continue to raise concerns about the funding gap, particularly as the additional bus and priority lane network for 2028 is not a permanent fixture in Los Angeles and are facing a $2.3 billion deficit by 2030.
During the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Deke’s muscular taxi Cycle Rick Show driver will likely transport athletes.
(Michael Montfort / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Olympic planners are confident that the transportation will be successful.
“LA has invested a lot in infrastructure and transportation infrastructure here, much more than 84,” said Casey Wasserman, LA28 Chairman, after a three-day visit from the International Olympic Committee.
“We are confident that when it comes to transportation, it will be another version of the success of ’84 in terms of intrusion and exit, access and experience.”
Times staff writer Thuc Nhi Nguyen contributed to this report.
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