Meeting_Body
SPECIAL BOARD MEETING
JANUARY 14, 2026
Preamble
Motion by:
DIRECTORS BASS, DUTRA, SOLIS, NAJARIAN, SANDOVAL, AND YAROSLAVSKY
Funding Flexibility for Local Jurisdictions in Support of the Metro 2028 Mobility Concept Plan Motion
With just two and a half years until the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the window is closing for local jurisdictions to be able to complete critical mobility projects in time for the Games. Metro can help local jurisdictions meet this challenge by leveraging existing funding programs to provide critical and timely funds through a reallocation opportunity that also serves the vision and goals of Metro’s 2028 Mobility Concept Plan.
Local jurisdictions in Los Angeles County are currently striving to take advantage of the once-in-a-generation opportunity provided by the upcoming 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games to make critical mobility improvements that will benefit mobility during the Games while providing lasting impact for residents. With the recent approval of the 2026-2028 STBG/CMAQ Project Award List by the Southern California Association of Governments Regional Council on December 4, 2025, local jurisdictions now have a clearer picture of remaining funding gaps standing in the way of delivering these key local projects in time for the 2028 Games.
The Mobility Concept Plan lists types of these supportive projects under the authority of local jurisdictions, including sidewalk widening, crosswalk improvements, traffic calming, new bike lanes, and improved bus stops. Metro has already done an excellent job in providing funding opportunities to local jurisdictions emphasizing these types of projects, such as the recent cycle of the Metro Active Transportation (MAT) program. With time short and local jurisdictions faced with pressing and critical funding decisions, the time is right to consider reallocation of funds that could be brought to bear.
Any reallocation related to benefiting mobility during the 2028 Games must be consistent with the vision and goals articulated in the Board-directed Metro 2028 Mobility Concept Plan.
2028 Mobility Concept Plan Goals
• Leave a lasting, positive legacy by learning from global best practices, piloting and expanding transportation improvements
• Enable everyone to get to the venues by public transit, walking or rolling
• Ensure all people with specific mobility needs are able to use the system in an efficient and inclusive manner
• Create an effective coalition of public and private-sector partners that deliver on mobility and operational improvements for the 2028 Games
One example of a program that Metro can leverage is the Call for Projects. In September 2025, Metro reported a total of $230.5 million in remaining Call for Projects funding subject to lapse. Some of this remaining funding was awarded to local jurisdictions nearly two decades ago in 2007, yet remains unspent due to evolved priorities, project issues, and funding eligibility requirements.
With the extraordinary circumstances of the 2028 project delivery deadline, it is reasonable for the Board to give local jurisdictions the opportunity to reallocate funding to deliver critical mobility projects in support of the 2028 Games and the Mobility Concept Plan.
The directives in this motion are intended to function as a menu of optional tools for local jurisdictions seeking to deliver near-term mobility improvements in time for the 2028 Games, and not as a mandate or reprioritization imposed by Metro. Participation by local jurisdictions in any reallocation opportunity described herein shall be entirely voluntary and initiated solely at the discretion of the local jurisdiction and shall not require any local jurisdiction to relinquish, redirect, or reallocate funds they wish to retain for their originally approved purposes.
Subject
SUBJECT: FUNDING FLEXIBILITY FOR LOCAL JURISDICTIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE METRO 2028 MOBILITY CONCEPT PLAN MOTION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
APPROVE Motion by Bass, Dutra, Solis, Najarian, Sandoval, and Yaroslavsky that the Board direct the Chief Executive Officer to:
A. Allow each local jurisdiction in L.A. County, at its sole discretion and upon its request, the option of reallocating Metro discretionary and non-discretionary funds, including but not limited to funds previously allocated by the Metro Board, such as the Call for Projects and Multiyear Subregional Programs, to advance local projects that are consistent with the goals of the Metro 2028 Mobility Concept Plan. For competitive funding programs, this option would apply only to funds awarded prior to January 1, 2024;
B. To ensure flexibility for participating local jurisdictions, exempt this reallocation from existing program requirements and guidelines to the maximum extent possible, so long as projects meet core criteria of supporting the 2028 Mobility Concept Plan and are consistent with appropriate statutes and ordinances;
C. To ensure timely availability of funding, delegate final reallocation approval to the CEO for the period of February 2026 through December 2027; and
D. Report to the Board with the results of the reallocation semi-annually, with a final report issued by December 2028.