Given its world-class venues, beautiful scenery, and gorgeous weather, it’s no surprise that Los Angeles is hosting the 2028 Summer Olympics. But here’s what might be surprising: This car-loving town, with its sprawling freeways, wants those Olympics to be “transit-first.”

Thus, LA’s building up its transit system in major ways. And these improvements should let the city’s residents enjoy efficient public transportation for generations to come.

The Vision for 2028

When Eric Garcetti was LA’s mayor, city leaders devised an ambitious list of 28 transit-related infrastructure improvements. Dubbed “Twenty-Eight by ’28,” this plan was to be fully enacted by 2028. Due to political conflicts and monetary shortfalls, though, only a few of the proposals have been finished. For example, three new rail lines were constructed to connect downtown LA, Crenshaw, and other municipal areas.

Nevertheless, those rail lines represent a profound step for LA’s transit. After all, they’re unifying a rail system that, for so many years, was quite haphazard. Seven more transit projects are currently being built. One especially pressing goal is to connect downtown LA and UCLA via the Purple Line. That’s because UCLA is the site of the Olympic athletes’ village.

Most likely, however, only 18 of the proposed improvements will be complete in time for the 2028 Olympics.

Improvements at LAX

One of those 18 projects is the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Automated People Mover (APM). Long delayed, the APM has entered its testing phase, and it should open in early 2026.

The APM is a smooth, quiet, air-conditioned, zero-emission, and nonstop transportation system, and it cost about $2 billion to build. During the busiest times of day, nine APM trains will transport up to 200 passengers. And, in its first year of operation, approximately 30 million people will ride it.

Moreover, the Airport Metro Connector will open in late 2024. Located in Westchester, this station will join the APM and the new Crenshaw K Line, making it easy to go from LAX to locales throughout the city.

Walking, Biking and Taking the Bus

To make it even simpler to get around, the city is adding walkable streets and bicycle share stations. A much-needed improvement for vulnerable road users. In 2022, LA County saw more than 3,500 pedestrian accidents, the most of any county in the state. Additionally, LA is planning a second people mover to connect Crenshaw to venues like Inglewood’s YouTube Theater and Kia Forum.

Buses are part of the equation as well. By 2027, LA’s Bus Rapid Transit system will boast three new routes:

  • Hollywood to South Central
  • North Hollywood to Pasadena
  • Northridge to North Hollywood

Other plans have been delayed significantly due to fundraising shortfalls. For example, four light rail connections won’t be finished until the 2030s. Those lines will service South Bay, the Valley, and other areas. Still other proposals are under consideration. For instance, the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project — which would take people from Van Nuys to the Expo Line — should open by 2035 as long as environmental experts deem the plan safe. Other plans would connect bus stations in Redondo Beach and Torrance via the C Line, give East LA more E Line stations, and connect downtown LA to southeastern LA County with light rail.

Money for Improvements

How is LA paying for this construction? Sales tax measures — Measure M and Measure R — have raised billions of dollars. The federal government is helping, too. For example, in 2024, it provided LA with a $900 million subsidy.

Finally, to make up for construction delays, LA is counting on buses. When the city hosted the Olympics in 1984, it rented 550 extra buses. In 2028, it will borrow 2,700 buses.

For sure, it can be hard to imagine Los Angeles as a bastion of public transportation. But, with 2028 fast approaching, the city’s buses, light rail trains, and people movers are all going for the gold.