Los Angeles’ promise of ‘car free’ Olympics in 2028 running short of time and money

Attempts to secure federal funding for several projects have been hit-and-miss, while the full list of Olympic venues has not been finalised

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Los Angeles’ sprawling road network will pose a different transport challenge from the issues faced by previous Olympic hosts, Paris. Photo: TNS

Published: 4:00pm, 24 Oct 2024Updated: 5:10pm, 24 Oct 2024

With the Los Angeles Olympics four years away and no detailed transport plans yet, officials are concerned about a lack of money and time to create the “car free” Games that Mayor Karen Bass has promised.

Local officials have a litany of projects they want to complete ahead of 2028, from adding charging infrastructure to improving Metro stations close to venues, but so far attempts to secure federal funds have been hit-and-miss.

The Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s US$3.3 billion list of projects needed to make the games run smoothly is 5.2 per cent funded. If the money does not come through soon, transit planners predict some critical projects may be scuttled – making it tougher for visitors and regular commuters to get around town.

The games are expected to bring an onslaught of tourists – a crowd equivalent of seven Super Bowls every day of the Olympics. And policymakers are starting to get nervous as the clock ticks.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has promised to create a “car free” 2028 Olympic Games. Photo: Reuters

Janice Hahn, Metro board chair and county supervisor who attended the closing ceremony in Paris and spent days observing their operations, is calling for a fresh Olympic transport plan that includes staffing levels, total estimated cost and a coordination strategy across the region. It is a plan that so far has been lacking, with no single agency in charge.