LASA gathered in the rain at Union Station to meet up with representatives from Metro and the Mayor’s Office to learn more about bus transportation and logistics planning for the upcoming World Cup, Olympic, and Paralympic Games.
Thank you to Ayda and her team for picking us up in a Metro bus for the wet ride from the Station to District 13 and for introducing us to so many team members. We met Angelenos who drive buses and those who repair them, who coordinate the storage of parts and those who drill on those parts to compete in the Roadeo, and who plan for disaster responses as well as greener ways to get about the county. Carmela reflected, “The scale of moving millions daily is immense, and the bus repair facility showcased impressive engineering and resourcefulness. I gained a deeper appreciation for the challenges and future of sustainable transportation in Los Angeles.” Maritza, a frequent rider, shared, “The upcoming changes for the transportation in the city also caught my attention and hope to see the plans flourish.”
Dan Rodman from Mayor Bass’ office both helped us to put the day together and come to speak with LASA about his work in transportation planning for events like the World Cup and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Landon noted, “Urban planning is very interesting and I find it crazy how they need to double their bus fleet size in order to keep up with the magnitude of the Olympics.” Dan helped LASA think through so many of the aspects of planning, from financing the events to making sure all Angelenos benefit from the festivities. Mia reflected, “I am so glad we got to speak to Mr. Rodman as well about the Olympics; I found the conversations around homelessness and the effects of the current administration on planning especially interesting.” The day raised new questions for Oliver: “What new areas would get new lines? Where would they go?”
Reed summed up the day for all of us: “I loved going to Union Station and watching how the LA Metro system works, it really felt like stepping into the heart of the city. It was inspiring to see all the people behind the scenes, from conductors to managers to sustainability staff, each playing a role with so much pride and job satisfaction. Hearing about the busses on tight schedules, with quick reaction to accidents or mishaps, the smooth coordination between everyone made me realize how much effort it takes to keep Los Angeles running every day. It gave me a new appreciation for public transportation and the people who dedicate themselves to connecting neighborhoods, helping commuters, and keeping the city moving forward. It was also fascinating to hear from the mayor’s office’s side of the Olympics and transportation during those weeks. It was inspiring to see how much effort is being put into this even years before it begins.”
Thanks to all those who helped make today such a success!