The Los Angeles Metro's Board of Directors has decided it will accelerate numerous transportation projects so they are complete by the 2028 Olympic Games. If left on their initial schedules, some of these projects would not be finished until 2041, Curbed reported.
Just as the name suggests, the 'Twenty-Eight by '28' initiative will focus on speeding up twenty-eight projects that are currently under construction, or planned.
"I said I would focus on three themes in the year I was honored to be your chair: To build, to ride, and to plan," said Los Angeles Mayor and Chair of the Metro Board Eric Garcetti. "To improve and accelerate the building of our transit needs, to improve the experience for our riders, and to plan for the future. The Twenty-Eight by '28 initiative weaves all those together."
Accelerated projects include:
- the Sepulveda Pass transit corridor;
- the West Santa Ana light rail line;
- the Green Line extension to Torrance;
- the Gold Line extension to Whittier or El Monte;
- a "Micro-Transit" initiative to add shuttles similar to Uber;
- renovating the Washington/Flower junction; and
- an extension of the ExpressLanes on the 10 freeway.
Metro has not detailed how it plans to expedite these projects yet, but the motion presented by the board looks at using the 2028 Olympics as a chance to lobby for extra funds, especially from the state and the federal government, Curbed reported.
