Elgin Nelson
With over 4 million visitors to Dodger Stadium each year, navigating traffic to attend games has long been a challenging task. The Los Angeles Aerial Rapid Transit (LA ART) aims to solve this issue with a new, groundbreaking gondola system that connects Los Angeles Union Station with Dodger Stadium, bringing significant environmental benefits.
This project will also serve traditionally underserved communities such as El Pueblo, Chinatown, Mission Junction, and Solano Canyon. The gondolas, which will be fully ADA accessible and offer space for baby strollers and bicycles, promise to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce pollution.
“This is a zero-emission project, so by putting this system in place, we’re replacing those long car trips, and that’s critically important,” said David Grannis, CEO of Zero Emission Transit.
Gondolas are a feasible mode of urban transit across the world, offering a safe and efficient solution for short-length transit connections, especially in areas with significant grade changes. This makes gondolas ideal where traditional transit modes face challenges, such as a connection to Dodger Stadium.
“And our project is should I say almost an exponential climate benefit, because we’re generating renewable power, storing that renewable power, and giving it back to the community when they need it,” Grannis added.
The environmental advantages of the LA ART gondola are noteworthy. Capable of transporting up to 5,000 people per hour in each direction, it is projected to remove up to 3,000 cars traveling to Dodger Stadium, thus easing congestion and enhancing neighborhood safety. With over 14,000 supporters in the project area and 72% of Los Angeles County voters supporting the gondola proposal, there is clear public enthusiasm for alternative, zero-emission transportation options.
The project commits to using LADWP’s Green Power Program for electricity, ensuring that power sources are renewable. Unlike traditional gondola systems that rely on diesel generators for backup power, the LA ART system will use a battery electric backup, offering additional resilience to the grid.
Over its lifetime, the gondola project is expected to reduce more than 125 million vehicle miles traveled and over 150,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. This reduction will especially benefit economically challenged neighboring communities disproportionately affected by pollution.
The system will feature 53 cabins that constantly circulate, offering a new cabin every 23 seconds. Additionally, anyone with a ticket to any Dodger game or who works in the area will ride for free.
“I’ve been doing this for 40 years, and what I’ve learned from all those years is you have to provide people with a good experience,” said Grannis. “They will come back again and again. It’s all about guest experience.”
LA ART is also committed to a 35% local hire goal, involving local electricians, plumbers, and other skilled tradespeople in construction. This includes a special focus on training individuals in zero-emission technologies such as solar panels and battery systems.
The project is currently undergoing approval processes at the state and city levels, with an expected construction period of 24 months.
This new transit system is poised to be fully operational by the first quarter of 2028, in time for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics. The LA ART gondola is not just a key infrastructure upgrade but a symbol of Los Angeles’ commitment to sustainable transportation and community development.
“When people know they are contributing to a project that is zero emission, and they’re having fun and doing good, it’s a win for us all,” Grannis states. “We must do our very best to make this a good, safe, and fun experience for everyone.