CONSULTING
CONSULTING
Third Times A Charm?
A Brief on LA's Bid for a Car-Free 2028 Olympic Games
Leigh Thomas
April 2025
I grew up in a household with strict restrictions on the tiny but weighty television set that occupied the corner of the living room. However, all rules were temporarily removed every four years, when my family would dedicate itself to watching as much of the Summer Olympic Games as we could take in. We would gather most evenings around the TV to watch gymnastics, swimming, and fencing. With great childhood enthusiasm I soaked up those athletes' adventurous and resilient spirits, consulting the hardback atlas to find countries represented. Tuning in those summers significantly enhanced my understanding of global cultures, peoples, and human potential. The evening prime-time footage showed me that this world is big – much more significant than what I could see out the window in southern New Mexico. Beyond the elementary school, library, and park that made up my life existed powerful athletes who did hard things and won medals! And now, as an adult with children of my own, the games still hold a rhythmic, every-four-year-pace in our home as we record our favorite events on YouTube TV and follow our favorite athletes and events (mountain biking, basketball, track & field, and archery). It seems so far away, but Summer 2028 will be here before we know it!
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Los Angeles will host the next summer Olympics, beginning July 14, 2028. 2028 will be the third time Los Angeles will host the games; the first was in 1932, and the second in 1984. London and Paris join Los Angeles in the short list of cities that have also hosted three times. The upcoming Olympics are nicknamed LA28, and preparations are underway. 11.2 million attendants to the Paris games in 2024, and Long Beach expects a similar-sized crowd. With a budget of $7 billion, less than the $20 billion Tokyo spent in 2020 (and 2021) on hosting the games, the city is burning the torch around the clock to be ready.
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In addition to hosting over 10,000 athletes competing in 36 events and all the spectators and journalists, Los Angeles committed to offering car-free games. LA28 is not the first game in which the host city has industriously worked to remove the need for private vehicles near the event center. Similar initiatives were pursued in Atlanta in 1996 and Paris in 2024. The city needs to host 10 million guests in these two weeks and prioritize transportation for the city's current residents who will need to get to work or school despite the extra visitors and activities. Managers from Atlanta's 1996 games recall the extensive media campaigns to relay information about improved transportation solutions to the residents.
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The list of projects to achieve the LA28 car-free games is "28 Projects by 2028 Games." Each is a public transit improvement like a bus route, rail line, or bike path. Additionally, one large pedestrian path called The Freedom Train will span 22 miles and connect all the Olympic event centers in LA. As of February 2025, the city has completed 5 of the proposed 28 projects while 23 remain in progress (You can find updates here https://www.metro.net/28x28/). A $20M grant will replace UCLA's fleet of buses with electric models, right on time for the EV-charging roadway (similar to Detroit's) that should be ready to go before the games begin.
While the 2028 games are accelerating the revolution of LA's transportation system, designers hope to do more than provide a seamless and successful transit program for the 14 days of Olympic events: they hope to leave a legacy of better commutes and sustainable improvements.
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Another significant change since the Atlanta games is the accessibility of technology. For LA28, the goal is to leverage existing technology to improve the customer experience. The plan is for attendees to buy event tickets, transportation, and food in one location, hopefully reducing stress and increasing enjoyment of the games, amenities, and stellar weather.
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As you can see, preparing for the summer games could be an Olympic sport all by itself! As I read about all these plans and changes, I wonder how the residents and taxpayers feel about these expenditures and improvements. Are all these transportation changes and carless expectations in the best interest of those who live in Los Angeles County, or are they merely the agenda of the policymakers?
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Links to supporting articles:
https://parkingtoday.com/2025/01/31/parking-prowess-at-the-1996-olympics/
https://www.dwell.com/article/car-free-los-angeles-2028-summer-olympic-games-transportation-4f9e653e
https://rebuildsocal.org/2022/04/preparing-for-the-2028-olympics/