Meeting_Body?
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING
SEPTEMBER 17, 2025
Subject
SUBJECT: 2028 MOBILITY CONCEPT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION REPORT
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE the 2028 Mobility Concept Plan (MCP) Progress Report.
Issue?
ISSUE?
This is a progress report regarding planning efforts in anticipation of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games ("the Games"), with a focus on planning activities for accessibility and upgrading key transit stations that will serve as critical hubs during the Games. The report highlights the identification of high-impact key stations and the development of Metro's Games Universal Inclusive Design Strategy, while also providing an update on the progress of various other workstreams as well as Metro's funding and legislative advocacy efforts for the 2028 Games.
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Background?
BACKGROUND?
Metro worked with LA28, Caltrans, Metrolink, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT), the City of Los Angeles Mayor's Office, and the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), a group collectively known as the Games Mobility Executives (GME), as well as venue cities and Councils of Governments, to develop the 2028 Games Mobility Concept Plan approved by the Metro Board in December 2022. Following an extensive agency stakeholder outreach process, Metro and the GME identified a list of 15 priority workstreams. The GME then created subcommittees to advance the projects and programs under each workstream. For this month's Ad-Hoc Committee, staff will provide an oral presentation on the work underway for Accessibility and Key Stations.
Discussion?
DISCUSSION?
Highlighted Workstream Updates
Accessibility
Metro is committed to delivering a world-class transportation network for all - reflective of the global and universally inclusive values of the Olympic and Paralympic movements. Achieving this vision requires more than meeting infrastructure demands; it requires sustained, cross-sector collaboration, a shared commitment to intentional universal and inclusive design, using human-centered design methods to fully integrate accessibility at every stage. As Metro advances its planning and implementation efforts, close coordination with partner agencies-including LA28, Caltrans, LADOT, Metrolink, SCAG, and local jurisdictions-remains critical to ensure alignment across jurisdictions, timelines, and funding streams. Equally important is the continued and ongoing engagement of the disability and aging communities to inform design decisions and identify barriers before they become operational challenges. Inclusive transit cannot be delivered without the voices of those who experience challenges, despite full compliance with regulatory/code requirements. Metro is committed to maintaining a dynamic, open, and ongoing dialogue with stakeholders, including customers with disabilities.
The accessibility and key station operational upgrades underway represent essential pillars of both Games readiness and long-term regional transformation. These investments will enable safe, seamless, and equitable travel during the Olympic and Paralympic Games and anchor a legacy of improved access, connectivity, and quality of life for decades to come. The following provides a summary update on these two workstreams:
Over the past year, Metro has played a key role in accessibility planning for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Led by the City of Los Angeles and in close collaboration with all GME partners, the Accessibility Subcommittee has met regularly to identify, elevate, and coordinate accessibility needs across all aspects of transportation planning for the Games. As part of this effort, we have shared updates and presented ongoing accessibility work by Metro and GME partners to broad stakeholder groups, including the Metro Accessibility Advisory Committee, The Los Angeles City Commission on Disability, and the Los Angeles County Commission on Disabilities. Engagement will be ongoing through the Accessibility Subcommittee.
To support Games readiness, Metro is developing the Games Universal Inclusive Design Strategy (see Attachment A), which is rooted in the principles of human-centered design and universal accessibility, ensuring that transportation planning for the 2028 Games prioritizes the diverse needs of all customers, especially those with disability, older adults, families with young children, and others who face barriers to mobility. The strategy outlines practical, targeted design interventions across the full customer journey, from Metro stations to venue screening areas, and identifies enhancements such as accessible pathways, tactile wayfinding, shade and rest/recovery areas, and upgraded amenities that improve the travel experience for everyone.
Embedding universal inclusive design strategies across GME workstreams ensures accessibility is fully integrated into the multifaceted components of Games planning. The RACI (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) matrix included in the strategy helps identify and clarify agency roles and responsibilities to ensure accessibility is built into the full spectrum of the design process from preliminary conceptual development to final implementation. Metro staff are working closely with the GME's Accessibility Subcommittee and external stakeholders to refine the strategy, integrating feedback that reflects real-world community needs and lived experiences. This collaborative, iterative approach ensures the strategy not only meets compliance standards but also addresses usability to deliver a legacy of more equitable, user-friendly transportation long after the Games conclude.
The GME's Accessibility Subcommittee initiated an analysis of key accessibility work underway across all other GME workstreams and has actively engaged City and County Commissions, local jurisdictions, and accessibility stakeholders to gather input and feedback around accessibility needs. The analysis informs both City and Metro planning efforts, helping to identify gaps, align strategies across agencies, and ensure that accessibility remains an embedded core priority across all Games-related workstreams. Metro continues to coordinate closely with the City of Los Angeles to share findings, align on common priorities, and ensure consistency across efforts. This partnership directly supports a motion introduced by Councilmember and Metro Board Director Padilla, which calls on the City to collaborate with the Department on Disability and the Civil and Human Rights and Equity Department to develop a comprehensive Accessibility Plan for the Games (Attachment B - Council File 15-0989-S45). The City of Los Angeles' Accessibility Chief, in the Mayor's Office of Major Events, is currently leading development of this broader Accessibility Plan, which will inform and guide Games operations and services beyond transportation. Plan elements will include:
Games Accessibility Plan Elements (DRAFT TOPICS SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
A. Policy
B. City Budget & Personnel Resources
C. Community Engagement
D. Transportation & Mobility
E. Venues & Infrastructure
F. Operations & Services
G. Public safety
H. Effective communication
I. Website and Mobile App Accessibility
J. Workforce, Economic and Business Development
K. Event Staff, Contractors, and Volunteers
L. Cultural Events
While the City leads the development of the broader Games Accessibility Plan, Metro is focused on advancing internal implementation efforts that reflect its operational responsibilities and areas of influence. As part of this work, Metro has identified 18 partially funded accessibility projects to be completed between fiscal years 26 and 28 (Attachment C).
These projects include expanded accessibility features, including but not limited to paratransit and shuttle services, tactile guidance systems, hands-free access to intercoms and elevators, and disability-focused operator training. Each project has been evaluated based on its feasibility, alignment with Games readiness, long-term legacy potential, and funding status. While many remain unfunded, all are grounded in Metro's commitment to inclusive design, addressing gaps in usability and the removal of barriers to support delivery of long-term benefits for customers with disability across the region.
Looking ahead, Metro and the City of Los Angeles will continue to engage GME and accessibility stakeholders to shape the next phase of accessibility planning. In fall 2025, Metro and Accessibility Subcommittee members will host a workshop during the Transportation and Mobility Summit (September 4, 2025) focused on the intersection of accessibility and heat resilience, identifying cross-cutting solutions that center the needs of customers with disabilities. The Accessibility Subcommittee will continue to identify and share accessibility resources, invite additional host cities and regional stakeholders into the planning process, and support countywide coordination to uplift accessibility in all aspects of Games transportation planning.
Key deliverables for the GME Accessibility committee include:
* Identify and share accessibility resources among GME partners.
* Invite local host cities, county agencies, and regional partners into planning discussions
* Create a policy framework to make accessibility a central planning principle across all GME workstreams
* Highlight best practices, common standards, and aligned policy goals across jurisdictions to ensure consistent, equitable access to venues and transit systems throughout the region.
Metro will work with LA28 to help inform the Paralympic Accessibility Master Plan and support the City of Los Angeles in developing its Accessibility Plan. The goal is to ensure timely coordination for all plans being developed by GME partners and to create synergistic opportunities built into every part of the 2028 Games. Together with our partners, Metro is committed to delivering Games that are fully accessible and leave a lasting, positive impact on people with disabilities across Los Angeles County.
Key Stations
The 2028 Games will be a "transit-first" event, placing Metro at the forefront of spectator and workforce mobility. With millions of visitors expected, Metro's key rail stations will serve as critical nodes in managing passenger flow, ensuring safety, and delivering a world-class transit experience. These stations will not only facilitate movement across the city but act as gateways to our communities, often serving as the first point of contact for international guests. Recognizing the strategic importance of the rail stations, Metro has prioritized key stations as a central component of the 2028 Games mobility planning.
Metro is committed to enhancing the safety, security, usability, and comfort of all of our stations through targeted improvements. For the Games, we view a subset of our stations as critical to moving the large number of anticipated riders smoothly and safely based on the modeling, which estimates when and where the system will be tested. These may include upgrades to station architecture, operational equipment, and the overall passenger environment. Specific features under consideration for modernization include lighting, security systems, and customer information and communication technologies. The following stations have been identified for major improvements (unfunded) to support the 2028 Games:
* Pico Station (Metro A and E Lines): Improve safety and capacity at the closest Metro station to LA Live by upgrading 12th Street as a pedestrian-friendly gateway connecting the station to LA Live and the LA Convention Center.
* LA Union Station (Metro A, B, and D Lines): Enhance the user experience at this major transit hub through new programming, improved vertical circulation between platforms and concourse, overall improved accessibility, and access upgrades for people biking and walking between Alameda Street and the station entrance.
* 7th/Metro Center Station (Metro A, B, D, and E Lines): Deliver state-of-good-repair improvements, including enhanced lighting and deep cleaning, to support this key transfer station.
In addition to these major upgrades, Metro may implement improvements at several, older underground stations for the Metro B and D Lines to elevate the customer experience and improve overall safety and accessibility. These include:
* Civic Center (Metro B Line)
* Hollywood/Highland (Metro B Line)
* Universal City/Studio City (Metro B Line)
* Wilshire/Vermont (Metro B and D Lines)
* North Hollywood (Metro B Lines)
Metro is collaborating with Metrolink to upgrade the Pomona Fairplex Station, a temporary station that will play a vital role during the Games. Planned improvements include ADA compliance and increased capacity to accommodate higher passenger volumes.
Additionally, this workstream includes a focus on accessibility innovations, such as mobile applications that provide audio and visual guidance for customers navigating indoor and outdoor transit environments. These enhancements will help ensure that Metro's rail system is inclusive, intuitive, and ready to welcome the world in 2028.
Other Workstream Updates
Recognizing the limited time remaining to deliver capital projects by 2028, Metro staff have started conceptual engineering and environmental clearance efforts as approved by the Metro Board of Directors at the October 2025 Special Board Meeting . This foundational work is targeted for completion by December 2025, positioning Metro to initiate NEPA clearance and preliminary engineering. The following table outlines the status of each Metro-led MCP project by workstream.
Workstream
Project
Design Level
Environmental
Funding Requests
Key Station
7th St/Metro Center Station
30% in progress
CEQA in progress
$73M (STBG)
LA Union Station
15% in progress
CEQA in progress
Light Rail Transit + Key Station
Washington/Flower + Pico
15% in progress
CEQA in progress
$13M (CMAQ)
Light Rail Transit
A Line Anaheim St Interlock
15% in progress
CEQA in progress
$87M (STBG)
A Line Avenue 34 Interlock
15% in progress
CEQA in progress
E Line Bundy Interlock
15% in progress
CEQA in progress
E Line Degnan Siding and Gramercy Interlocks
15% in progress
CEQA in progress
Mobility Hubs
Harbor Gateway
15% in progress
CEQA in progress
$55M (STBG)
$38M (SHOPP)
Memorial Park
15% in progress
CEQA in progress
Norwalk
15% in progress
CEQA in progress
A detailed progress report on these workstreams is provided in Attachment D.
Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN) Program Update
Preliminary engineering and community engagement are advancing for all 14 of the RCN grant-funded projects. Metro is leading 13 of the RCN projects, including three bus priority enhancement corridors, five first/last mile projects, and five mobility hubs. San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments (SGVCOG) is delivering design through construction for the Valley Blvd/Santa Anita bus priority enhancement project, in coordination with SGVCOG's existing work for the San Gabriel Valley Bus Corridor Transit Improvements Project. The COG plans to complete preliminary engineering and associated community outreach in 2025.
The City of Los Angeles will lead the final design and construction of the Pico Blvd and Flower Street first/last mile projects. Metro will be delivering final engineering and construction for the mobility hub projects, where improvements are largely within Metro-owned right-of-way. In addition, Metro will provide technical assistance to deliver final engineering and construction for three bus corridor enhancement projects in the cities of Bell, Bell Gardens, Downey, Huntington Park, Los Angeles, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, and Unincorporated Los Angeles County, as well as three first/last mile projects in the cities of Carson and Norwalk. Staff plan to have agreements with local jurisdictions by Fall 2025.
Funding Update
Securing adequate funding continues to be a significant challenge for Metro's 2028 Games MCP projects, which are essential to reducing reliance on the Games Enhanced Transportation Service (GETS) and minimizing its associated costs. Unfortunately, Metro's applications for USDOT's BUILD funding for two critical 2028 Games MCP projects, Norwalk Station Mobility Hub and Multimodal Access Improvements, and Washington/Flower Multimodal Mobility Improvements, were not selected for award.
In May 2025, Metro submitted seven grant applications for MCP projects under the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) and Congestion Management and Air Quality (CMAQ) programs. These projects include:
* Mobility Wallet - Phase 4
* Metro Mobility Hubs (Norwalk, Harbor Gateway, and Memorial Park)
* Customer Experience Improvements at Downtown LA Stations
* Washington/Flower Multimodal Mobility Improvements
* A and E Lines Operational Improvements
* Transportation Demand Management Implementation
* Transit Signal Priority and Automated Traffic Signal Performance Measures
Funding decisions from the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) are expected in December 2025.In parallel,?Caltrans has committed to seek state capital funding for two Metro Mobility Hubs located on Caltrans' right-of-way. The two priority sites are Norwalk and Harbor Gateway.
Legislative Update
Federal Budget Request Update?
Consistent with our 2025 Board-approved Federal Legislative Program, Metro has and will continue to work with the federal government to include funding for the GME priority workstreams in the President's Fiscal Year 2026 Budget and the Fiscal Year 2026 spending bills being adopted by the U.S. Congress.
On November 21, 2024, Metro conveyed a letter unanimously signed by Metro Board members, urging President-elect Donald Trump to include $3.2 billion for GME priority workstreams in his Fiscal Year 2026 Budget. The requests outlined in this correspondence and in accompanying fact sheets include funding for essential Games-specific projects, such as the GETS, Mobility Hubs, and GRN. Funding the essential Games-specific projects is currently the most significant challenge facing Metro and the GME partners. This is analogous to the challenges faced by the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. This was resolved, in part, by Congress appropriating funding identified in the FY2002 Budget released by then-President George W. Bush.
Unfortunately, despite staff's work with the Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and key stakeholders urging President Trump to include $3.2 billion for GME priority workstreams in his Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, no mobility-focused funding was included in the FY2026 Budget that was released by the White House earlier this year.
Joint Advocacy Efforts/Strategy
Metro continues to work in good faith with a broad and diverse array of federal, regional, and local stakeholders to ensure that the State and Federal Governments provide support for surface transportation projects and initiatives related to the 2028 Games.
At the Federal level, Metro has worked with a diverse number of partners to secure financial support from the Federal government for our agency's efforts related to the 2028 Games. This effort is guided and informed by our Board-approved 2025 Federal Legislative Program and the Board-approved MCP, which set forth the projects?deemed necessary and how Metro will work with the White House, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and Congress to successfully coordinate the 2028 Games being held in Los Angeles County.
In 2025, staff have been working with the Los Angeles County Congressional Delegation as to how the FY2026 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (THUD) bill might include funding for mobility-related projects and initiatives tied to the upcoming 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Most recently, the House Committee on Appropriations adopted its Fiscal Year 2026 THUD spending bill. While this measure did not include funding for mobility-related efforts tied to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it did include the following report language, which we view as helpful.
"Major sporting events.-The Committee directs DOT to provide a report to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations within 90 days of enactment of this Act outlining prospective transportation challenges and needs as they relate to North America's hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the 2028 Olympics. The Committee expects this report to provide detail on the Federal role for supporting these events and how U.S. host cities can best be supported with recommendations, including through support to State and local transportation authorities."
Soon after the House Committee on Appropriations adopted its Fiscal Year 2026 THUD spending bill, the Senate Committee on Appropriations adopted its transportation spending measure for Fiscal Year 2026. Unlike the House spending bill, the Senate bill and report did include mobility-related funding for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Specifically, the Senate bill provides the Federal Transit Administration $68 million for transit costs associated with the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Senate's Fiscal Year 2026 THUD bill also includes report language that provides "appropriate relief" for transit providers on issues related to spare ratio and charter regulations that could impact the effective delivery of transit services during the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Metro will continue to work with stakeholders to advance our goal to secure federal support for our mobility plans related to the Games in the final Fiscal Year 2026 THUD bill. At the same time, we will continue to explore every opportunity to ensure that the President's Fiscal Year 2027 Budget, which will be released early next year, will include robust funding that would allow our agency to implement a world-class mobility plan for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact?
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT?
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Metro's commitment to accessibility and safety is reflected in ongoing efforts to enhance key stations that will serve Olympic and Paralympic venues. These station upgrades are designed with universal access as an essential core component of design, deliverables incorporating features such as elevators with hands-free controls, blind pedestrian tactile guidance systems, multilingual accessible wayfinding mobile app, expanded platforms, and clearly marked boarding zones that support safe and intuitive movement for all customers, including those with a disability, seniors, and families with strollers.
By improving lighting, visibility, wayfinding, and emergency communication systems, these investments not only support ADA compliance but improve usability which enhances safety for all users. Upgraded stations will facilitate independent travel, be easier to navigate, reduce crowding and confusion, and provide safer transfers-especially important during high-volume Games periods. These efforts demonstrate Metro's focus on building a transportation system that is not only ready for the global stage, but safer, more accessible, and more welcoming for everyday riders across Los Angeles County.
Equity_Platform?
EQUITY PLATFORM?
Accessibility and key station improvements are central to Metro's equity goals and long-term vision for regional mobility. As outlined in the Mobility Concept Plan for the 2028 Games, these upgrades are not just about preparing for a one-time global event-they are strategic investments aimed at building a more connected, inclusive, and resilient transportation system. By removing physical and systemic barriers that disproportionately affect people with disabilities, older adults, and historically underserved communities, Metro is using the Games as a catalyst to accelerate system accessibility improvements that will benefit residents across Los Angeles County for many decades into the future. Metro will be positioned to address anticipated unprecedented increases in people with disabilities, older adults and others, as well as implement mitigations to address the impacts of global warming.
These legacy-focused investments support Metro's broader mission to strengthen regional connectivity, expand equitable access to opportunity and ultimately improve quality of life. Enhanced stations and accessible infrastructure will make it easier and safer for all riders to travel between neighborhoods, job centers, resource areas, and venues- both during the Games and every day after. These improvements directly align with Metro's goals to reduce reliance on single-occupancy vehicles, increase transit ridership, and promote more walkable, multimodal communities. By embedding equity and universal / inclusive design into Games planning, Metro is ensuring that the benefits of 2028 are shared widely and help shape a more inclusive future for the region.
Vehicle_Miles_Traveled_Outcome?
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED OUTCOME
Vehicles Miles Traveled (VMT) and VMT per capita in Los Angeles County are lower than national averages, the lowest in the SCAG region, and on the lower end of VMT per capita statewide, with these declining VMT trends due in part to Metro's significant investment in rail and bus transit.* Metro's Board-adopted VMT reduction targets align with California's statewide climate goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. To ensure continued progress, all Board items are assessed for their potential impact on VMT.?
As part of these ongoing efforts, this item is expected to contribute to further reductions in VMT. This item supports Metro's systemwide strategy to reduce VMT through investment, planning and operational activities that will improve and further encourage transit ridership, ridesharing, and active transportation including first/last mile improvements, bus priority corridors, mobility hubs, and mobility wallet support. Metro's Board-adopted VMT reduction targets were designed to build on the success of existing investments, and this item aligns with those objectives.?
*Based on population estimates from the United States Census and VMT estimates from Caltrans' Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data between 2001-2019.??
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals?
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS?
The development of the MCP supports:?
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Strategic goal 1: Provide high-quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling. Strategic Goal 2: Deliver outstanding trip experiences for all users of the transportation system. Strategic Goal 4: Transform LA County through regional collaboration and national leadership by providing a roadmap and strategy to deliver permanent transit and transit-supportive projects and programs that can help serve the 2028 Games.?
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Next_Steps?
NEXT STEPS?
Staff will continue the scoping work necessary to advance the 2028 Games MCP projects that Metro is currently leading, including the initiation of the Environmental phase for the remaining Metro-led projects. This effort will be critical to ensure these projects can continue to compete for additional state and federal funding opportunities and be delivered in time for the Games. Staff will continue to seek potential local, state, and federal funding opportunities and work with the Board to advocate for funding for both legacy projects and essential Games-specific projects, such as the GETS and GRN.?
Staff will also continue to coordinate with LA28 to receive updated information related to competition schedules and security planning. Similarly, staff will continue to coordinate with other agencies through the GME subcommittees in order to ensure alignment on projects, identify funding opportunities, and avoid duplication of work.
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Attachments?
ATTACHMENTS?
Attachment A - Metro's 2028 Games Universal Inclusive Design Strategy
Attachment B - Council File 15-0989-S45 (Accessibility Plan)
Attachment C - FY26 Accessibility Projects List
Attachment D - Workstreams Progress Update (September 2025)
Prepared_by?
Prepared by:
Jacqueline Torres, Senior Director, Office of Strategic Innovation, (213) 547-4208??
Daniel Bernstein, Principal Planner, Office of Strategic Innovation, (213) 922-4135
Hector Gutierrez, Senior Manager, Office of Strategic Innovation, (213) 444-9304??
Ernesto Chaves, Executive Officer, Office of Strategic Innovation, (213) 547- 4362?
Reviewed_By?
Reviewed by: Seleta Reynolds, Chief Innovation Officer, (213) 922-4656?
Digitally approved by Stephanie Wiggins, Chief Executive Officer