LACMTA
LACMTA on Feb. 3 reported that the recent legislation signed into law by POTUS 47 included $94.3 million in mobility-related funding for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This funding will allow the transit agency “to keep moving forward” on the Games Enhanced Transit System (GETS), which includes “advance service planning, initial leasing costs for land, design for temporary bus facilities, and station experience enhancements,” according to LACMTA, which carries nearly 1 million boardings daily on six rail lines and with a fleet of 2,200 low-emission buses (see map, for download below). The funding will also support the final design and engineering for key station improvements, mobility hubs and light rail improvements; final design and engineering for the Games Route Network; and planning and design for “quick build” pedestrian enhancements for venue areas, it said.
In anticipation of hosting the 2028 Games, the LACMTA Board approved a list of 28 projects, totaling $20 billion and targeted for delivery by 2028. According to the transit agency, 32% have been completed; 25% are under construction; 25% in planning; and 18% in design. Project partners include Metrolink, Caltrans, the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles DOT, Southern California Association of Governments, and Los Angeles 2028.
“We appreciate the leadership from the California Congressional delegation, including Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, and Representatives Pete Aguilar and Norma Torres on the House Appropriations Committee for their support of this critical funding,” LACMTA Chair Fernando Dutra said. “This bipartisan effort, which also included support from Secretary Duffy, Administrator Molinaro, and the staff of the U.S. Department of Transportation, will be essential for success. We look forward to collaborating with the federal government to deliver a world-class experience for everyone coming to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
“The 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games are a time for America to shine on the world stage—and we know that transportation will be a key part of the visitor experience,” LACMTA CEO Stephanie Wiggins said. “We appreciate this bipartisan support from Congress and this Administration, and we look forward to continuing to work with them to provide the needed resources so everyone coming for America’s Games can have a gold medal experience in 2028.”
According to LACMTA, the legislation also included approximately $9.1 million for World Cup 26 transportation assistance (out of a total of $100 million), $2.3 million for bus stop enhancements, $15 million for transit safety funding (for the top 10 transit agencies), and $149 million for the Vermont bus rapid transit line.
Separately, LACMTA recently awarded Parsons Transportation Group a contract for the Metro A line extension project, and selected rapid transit for the Sepulveda Transit Corridor Project.
CTC
CTC has allocated $988.7 million “to expand transit capabilities, add new highway safety features, and boost the state’s continued climate action goals,” the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) reported Feb. 3. The approved funding is said to include $184 million from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) and $336 million in support from Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
Funding will go toward these transit-related projects: Los Angeles Union Station rehabilitation ($60 million); the purchase of 20 electric buses for the City of Glendale ($17 million); and the purchase of eight new light rail vehicles for SacRT ($21 million). Additionally, $1.72 million has been allocated to the SANDAG (San Diego Association of Governments)—Sorrento to Miramar, Phase 2 Intermodal Improvements project for the design of 1.9 miles of double-track between I-805 and Miramar Road in the City of San Diego, curve straightening (to help speed passenger and freight trains as they climb Miramar Hill), and new signals near Miramar Road along the rail corridor. According to SANDAG, Phase 1, which was completed in March 2014, added one mile of double track and replaced an aging wooden trestle bridge south of the Sorrento Valley COASTER station.
Click here for a list of non-rail-related funded projects.
Separately, Caltrans earlier this year awarded approximately $97 million to ten rail-related projects that it said prioritize public transit in communities most affected by pollution. They will be funded by the California Climate Investments initiative through the Low Carbon Transit Operation Program.
BART
BART has published its 2026-2035 Sustainability Action Plan (SAP), identifying initiatives that the transit agency said will “support regional climate resilience, public well-being, increased ridership, and responsible environmental practices” (see above).
The 2026-2035 SAP was compiled using lessons-learned from the 2015-2025 SAP and outreach to riders, BART employees, the BART Board, and community members, according to the agency, which operates a rapid transit system in five California counties (San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara) with 131 miles of track and 50 stations (see map below). BART said its Sustainability Department conducted surveys, held community meetings, and established internal working groups to help fine-tune priorities. The department also examined historical performance data and built models to forecast BART’s future resource use.
The plan is organized into seven categories that reflect different aspects of BART’s Sustainability Program. Within each category, BART has identified a mission-oriented goal, performance metrics to be tracked relative to 2030 targets, and organization-wide actions that it said “will enhance” its sustainability best practices.
According to BART, key priorities include:
- “Increasing BART’s share of greenhouse gas-free electricity to 100% (currently BART’s electricity is 86% GHG-free as of calendar year 2024).
- “Upgrading water fixtures to conserve water across BART facilities.
- “Expanding recycling and composting efforts across BART facilities.
- “Adopting a Green Procurement Policy to aid in selecting sustainable materials.
- “Conducting a multi-hazard climate risk assessment.
- “Building more Transit-Oriented Development at our stations.
- “Improving rider satisfaction by focusing on station cleanliness and safety.”
“BART has made significant progress in advancing sustainability over the past eight years, but there’s more work to do,” said Michael Cox, BART Manager of Sustainability Projects. “Our goal for the new action plan is to establish practices that will pay environmental and cost dividends even beyond 2035. Getting input from many stakeholders helped us ensure we are planning projects that prioritize riders and help our system run more efficiently.”
BART said that it will issue annual sustainability reports throughout the 2026-2035 SAP period to provide updates on project progress. The Calendar Year 2025 Sustainability Report, which will be released later this year, will be the final report summarizing work related to the outgoing 2015-2025 SAP.
Separately, BART recently launched free Wi-Fi at five stations in time for the Super Bowl; reported that crime dropped 41% in 2025; and teamed with Uber Transit on first mile/last mile planning and payment.
