{"id":445147,"date":"2026-08-27T14:02:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T14:02:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/445147\/"},"modified":"2026-08-27T14:02:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T14:02:16","slug":"californias-insane-2b-ask-to-keep-la-olympics-from-becoming-traffic-hell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/445147\/","title":{"rendered":"California\u2019s insane $2B ask to keep LA Olympics from becoming traffic hell"},"content":{"rendered":"

Los Angeles wants $2 billion in federal cash to prepare its transportation system for the 2028 Olympics<\/a>, but the Trump administration left the request out of its budget.<\/p>\n

LA Metro says the money is needed to move millions of visitors <\/a>during the Games.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

An LA2028 sign is seen on the Los Angeles Coliseum. REUTERS<\/p>\n

Half would go toward temporarily acquiring, operating and storing nearly 1,750 additional buses.<\/p>\n

The other $1 billion would pay for pedestrian improvements, high-speed traffic lanes and street-design networks connecting Olympic venues.<\/p>\n

The House Appropriations Committee has advanced an initial $875 million, but the full request still needs approval from both chambers of Congress \u2014 and ultimately President Trump’s signature.<\/p>\n

The next federal fiscal cycle begins Oct. 1.<\/p>\n

LA Metro’s board and California Democrats have repeatedly pressed Washington for the money, including efforts to get the Trump administration to put it in its annual budget.<\/p>\n

It didn’t.<\/p>\n

\"Democratic<\/p>\n

Democratic lawmakers are now warning that failing to secure the transportation funding could mean more traffic. Bloomberg via Getty Images<\/p>\n

The administration’s budget did include increased federal funding for Olympic security involving the Department of Homeland Security, FBI and Secret Service.<\/p>\n

Trump, meanwhile, has repeatedly questioned whether Los Angeles is ready to host the Games. <\/p>\n

He previously threatened to move the 2028 Olympics out of the city if local leadership, including Gov. Gavin Newsom<\/a>, failed to improve crime and homelessness conditions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Now Democratic lawmakers are warning that Washington’s refusal to fully fund LA’s transportation wish list could leave visitors facing more traffic, fewer buses and unreliable public transit.<\/p>\n

Rep. Laura Friedman said Wednesday that the lack of federal assistance could worsen congestion and public transit reliability.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The other $1 billion would fund pedestrian improvements, high-speed traffic lanes and street-design networks leading to Olympic venues. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

“That will be a terrible result, not just for Los Angeles, but for the whole nation,” Friedman said.<\/p>\n

Friedman convened a panel in West Hollywood with Democratic colleagues to grill regional transportation officials about whether LA will be ready to move the millions of visitors expected for the Games.<\/p>\n

Rep. Judy Chu also called for federal assistance.<\/p>\n

“\u200aOur local partners can’t do this alone,” Chu said. “Hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games is an opportunity for the entire country, and Los Angeles should have a strong federal partner to help us prepare.”<\/p>\n

\"Mejia<\/p>\n

Mejia previously served in office following a campaign involving affiliation with the Democratic Party. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images<\/p>\n

The transportation funding fight comes as LA faces another Olympic-related financial headache<\/a>.<\/p>\n

City Controller Kenneth Mejia has requested financial documents from LA28, the private organization behind the Games, as questions mount over the city’s financial relationship with the organization.<\/p>\n

“Never before in this City’s history has a private org been backstopped by the City of LA to carry out an endeavor of this size and cost.<\/p>\n

Today, we requested all financial documents from LA28 owed to the City to provide the transparency & accountability that you all deserve,” he wrote on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Under the Constitution, federal spending requires approval by Congress, and the president <\/a>must sign the final spending bill before the money can be spent.<\/p>\n

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