As Angelenos Turn Attention Toward “Car-Free” LA 2028 Games, Court Rejects Key Lawsuit Against The Proposed Zero Emission LA-ART Gondola System
August 12, 2024
Innovative, Clean Energy Gondola System Would Provide First Permanent Mass Transit Connection Between Dodger Stadium & Regional Transit System
LOS ANGELES – Today, Zero Emission Transit released the following statement after the Los Angeles Superior Court rejected a key lawsuit from opponents of the zero-emission Dodger Stadium to Union Station gondola project. The ruling comes as Los Angeles turns its attention towards the LA 2028 Olympic Games and the region seeks to create a “car-free” Games. The clean energy gondola project will provide the first permanent mass transit connection, linking Dodger Stadium to the broader Los Angeles transit system. It is scheduled to be completed ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
“Today’s ruling – the third of three rulings by a judge in the project’s favor– underscores the widespread public benefits of the gondola project to the community, transit system, and our environment,” said Nathan Click, spokesman for Zero Emission Transit. “While opponents of the zero-emission gondola system try to stall the project through poorly-considered lawsuits, the project continues to gather momentum – especially as Angelenos turn their attention toward the LA 2028 Olympic games. The gondola project recently received a unanimous vote from the Los Angeles Metro Board of Directors to approve its environmental review and move the project forward and a recent survey of LA County residents showed 72 percent support the project. The project is anticipated to be completed ahead of 2028, providing a critical clean energy transit connection to one of LA’s most iconic athletic venues.”
The gondola would operate with zero emissions and would be the first aerial gondola transit system to include a battery-electric backup system. The project’s approved environmental review finds that it could reduce emissions by over 150,000 metric tons of greenhouse gasses over its lifetime. The gondola would be free to ride for anyone with a ticket to a Dodger game. It will also provide local benefits to those who live and work in the area through the “Community Access Program” which would allow residents and employees of businesses close to the project to ride the gondola and connect to the regional transit system for an LA Metro fare, at no additional cost and a benefit to the community.
“This is exactly the kind of zero-emission transportation project we need more of in Los Angeles to connect a major venue and park to the regional transportation system,” said Suja Lowenthal, Chairwoman of Zero Emission Transit. “This project provides benefits for all LA residents, but especially local residents– less traffic, fewer emissions, and an easy way to use transit to get to Elysian Park and Dodger Games and reducing local impacts– all without getting into your car. With the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics around the corner, let’s demonstrate Los Angeles is on the cutting edge of fighting climate change and building zero-emission transit.”
The proposed system has a much higher capacity than other forms of public transportation. The EIR shows that the system will be able to carry 10,000 per hour between Union Station and Dodger Stadium during each game at full capacity.
Nearly 15,000 individuals and more than 400 businesses in Chinatown, El Pueblo, and Lincoln Heights have signed up to support the project. The project also has support from organized labor, business, and environmental advocates. These include the Los Angeles and Orange County Building Trades, the Los Angeles County Business Federation (BizFed), the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, Central City Association, the Chinese American Museum, Climate Resolve, Breathe Southern California, and the Healthy Air Alliance.
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