LA uses World Cup to show off upgraded public transit and test plans to hold car-free Olympics
Summary
Los Angeles is using the 2026 FIFA World Cup games held in the city to promote its improved public transit system and prepare for the 2028 Olympics, which aims to be car-free for attendees. Officials added shuttle buses to connect venues not directly served by trains and are working to improve rider safety with a new transit police force.Key Facts
- The 2026 World Cup featured eight games in Los Angeles, helping to introduce residents to the city's public transit system.
- On July 2, nearly 50,000 people used rail lines to attend the Spain-Austria match.
- Since SoFi Stadium is not directly accessible by train, 15 shuttle bus lines were added, carrying over 30,000 riders for that game.
- Metro borrowed about 200 buses for the World Cup and plans to borrow 3,000 buses for the 2028 Olympics.
- The 2028 Olympics will not have parking at venues, requiring attendees to rely on transit and shuttles.
- Los Angeles Metro currently provides about 1 million rides daily, fewer than cities like New York or Chicago.
- Safety concerns exist related to crime, drug use, cleanliness, and homelessness on transit.
- Metro started its own police force in June 2026, aiming to improve safety and gradually replacing LAPD presence by 2029.
- Crime on LA Metro has decreased by 13.6% over the past two years according to agency data.
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