Mayor Karen Bass recently took a trip to Paris before the 2024 Olympics, and Los Angeles County receives nearly $900 million in federal funding ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.
By Blake Carter
With the Olympics coming to Los Angeles in 2028, the city and the county are getting a jumpstart on preparations to being on the world stage. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass toured the site of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, LA Metro will receive nearly $900 million in federal investments to improve mobility and upgrade transportation infrastructure, and the city is making preparations for local small businesses to participate in the Olympic Games.
Bass’ trip to Paris was to ensure that Los Angeles is prepared to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. During the trip, the mayor’s delegation focused on small and diverse businesses’ abilities to benefit from the historic boost to the economy that will come with the Olympics games while generating innovative green transportation and infrastructure projects.
“The reason for this trip was to really see behind the curtain about how a city prepares to host one of the biggest events in the world and we accomplished just that,” Bass said.
Infrastructure was a major topic on the Paris trip, and the city and county of Los Angeles will have some major decisions to make as LA Metro will receive nearly $900 million in new transportation infrastructure funding.
“This nearly $900 million in federal funding that is coming to the region to expand Metro’s rail system ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be vital for our success,” Bass said. “None of that would be possible without the Biden/Harris administration leading on this important issue.”
LA Metro receives $709.9 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Fiscal Year 2024 transportation spending bill. The Los Angeles region will also receive $160 million in new federal grant funding for street and transit infrastructure, traffic safety and to improve connections between neighborhoods. This includes $139 million that will directly improve transportation mobility access during the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and create lasting enhancements for communities.
This funding is not only for the 2028 Olympic Games as the funds will be used for more permanent upgrades opposed to temporary upgrades. It will also improve transportation around the city and county, including Los Angeles’ Black communities.
"The $900 million in federal infrastructure funding for the Los Angeles County region ahead of the Olympics and Paralympic games has been years in the making; this isn't about getting ready for 2028; it's about making legacy investments that will last past the games and have a generational impact,” said Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. “As a Board Director for Metro and the LA County Supervisor representing the majority of Black communities and communities that are due for targeted investments to bus lane improvements, mobility hubs to offer diverse forms of transportation, increased bike share programs, and first and last mile improvements to get our residents all the way home on public transit, I am proud that millions of dollars will be going into these types of initiatives that will help improve transit access, mobility and the quality of life for our residents in South Los Angeles and throughout LA County.”
The First/Last Mile program improves access around transit stations and stops. Metro’s goal to make it easier to travel in Los Angeles includes riders who walk, bike or roll to and from their nearest station or bus stop. This journey is called the “first/last mile connection.”
For information about LA Metro projects, visit www.metro.net
