The Indicator from Planet Money

Can LA host a 'car-free' Olympics?

September 22, 2025

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  • Los Angeles is undergoing a significant public transit expansion, investing $120 billion over 40 years with a goal of a "no-car Olympics" for the 2028 games, aiming to transform its car-centric culture. 
  • There is a debate in Los Angeles regarding the allocation of transit funds, with transit advocates like Scarlett DeLeon arguing for prioritizing improvements to the existing bus system for working-class residents over large-scale subway projects that may primarily benefit tourists and new riders. 
  • While the massive transit investment in Los Angeles is intended to ease congestion and improve access, its vast scale and high construction costs mean it can only make a "small dent" in the region's challenges, according to Stephen Chung of the LA Economic Development Corporation. 

Segments

LA Transit Renaissance
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(00:00:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Los Angeles is investing $120 billion in transit infrastructure, including new subway and light rail lines, aiming for a “no-car Olympics” in 2028.
  • Summary: The conversation begins by introducing the concept of Los Angeles’s public transit expansion, highlighting the significant investment and the ambitious goal of hosting the Olympics with minimal car usage, contrasting it with the city’s historical car culture.
Wilshire Boulevard Subway Project
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(00:03:23)
  • Key Takeaway: The construction of a multi-billion dollar subway under Wilshire Boulevard signifies Los Angeles’s break from its suburban, car-dominated past, aiming to transform the city.
  • Summary: This segment focuses on Wilshire Boulevard as LA’s main street and the ongoing subway construction beneath it, discussing its potential to reshape the city and connect diverse neighborhoods, while also touching on the engineering challenges.
Advocacy for Current Riders
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(00:04:30)
  • Key Takeaway: Transit advocate Scarlett DeLeon argues that transit investments should prioritize improving the bus system for current working-class and immigrant riders, rather than focusing solely on attracting new riders or tourists.
  • Summary: The discussion shifts to the perspective of transit advocate Scarlett DeLeon, who emphasizes the reliance of many Angelinos on public transportation and expresses concern that new investments might not adequately serve existing users, potentially leading to gentrification near new transit lines.
Funding and Future Impact
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(00:08:01)
  • Key Takeaway: Measure M, a sales tax passed in 2016, funds LA’s transit expansion, but its effectiveness in transforming the vast region and serving current riders remains a key question.
  • Summary: This segment delves into the funding mechanism for the transit expansion, Measure M, and discusses the challenges of transforming such a large region with the allocated funds, with input from Stephen Chung on the scale of Los Angeles and the need for a mixed transit approach.