Inglewood Transit Connector

File:Inglewood Transit Connector map.png

The project was part of the Envision Inglewood plan, that was the culmination of several transportation and mobility initiatives to be undertaken by the City including a citywide event transportation management and operations plan, mobility plan, neighborhood protection plan, and the Inglewood Transit Connector Project that would connect the under-construction Downtown Inglewood station on the Metro K Line to Kia Forum, SoFi Stadium, mixed-use development at Hollywood Park, and Intuit Dome.{{cite news|last1=|first1=|date=|title=Editorial: Want football fans to take transit? Build a people mover to the new Inglewood stadium|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|author=Editorial Board|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-03-19/inglewood-people-mover-stadium}}{{Cite web |title=Inglewood Transportation Infrastructure Plan {{!}} Envision Inglewood |url=https://envisioninglewood.org/ |access-date=2022-04-22 |language=en-US}}

In April 2020, the City was awarded $95.2 million from the California State Transportation Agency's Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program,{{Cite report|title=CalSTA Award Summary|url=https://calsta.ca.gov/-/media/calsta-media/documents/2020-tircp-detailed-project-award-summary.pdf}} and in July 2021 Metro allocated $233.7 million in Measure R sales tax funds.{{Cite news|title=Metro Source|url=https://thesource.metro.net/2021/07/20/preview-of-metro-board-of-directors-july-meeting/}} As of 2021, the City has secured approximately $328.9 million in committed funding for the implementation of the Project out of the $2 billion dollars needed.{{cite web | url=https://la.urbanize.city/post/details-emerge-proposed-inglewood-people-mover | title=Details Emerge for Proposed Inglewood People Mover | date=August 12, 2020 }} By the close of 2023, the project had secured $873 million in local, state, and federal funds.{{cite news | last=Luczak| first=Marybeth | date=January 5, 2024 | title=Inglewood Transit Connector Project Lands $1B Federal Grant | url = https://www.railwayage.com/regulatory/inglewood-transit-connector-project-lands-1b-federal-grant/

| access-date = January 5, 2024}} In January 2024, the FTA announced a $1 billion commitment towards the project via a Capital Investment Grant, covering 50% of the approximately $2 billion total project cost.{{Cite report |url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/2024-01/CA-Inglewood-Transit-Connector-Engineering-Engineering-project-profile.pdf |title=Inglewood Transit Connector Project |publisher=Federal Transit Administration |language=en-US} |access-date=2024-01-05}}

The City planned to complete the project using an alternative delivery approach known as public–private partnership. In December 2021, the City launched the procurement process for the project with two parallel requests for qualifications (RFQ) issued to the private sector: one for the design, construction, financing, operations and maintenance of the project and one for the proposed the transit technology to be used.{{cite web|title=RFQ deadline extended for Inglewood Transit Connector|url=https://www.proximoinfra.com/news/47049/RFQ-deadline-extended-for-Inglewood-Transit-Connector|date=15 February 2022|access-date=2 March 2022}}

On April 1, 2024, the ITCJPA officially began pre-construction work on the project, starting with utility relocations on Prairie Avenue and intersecting streets between Manchester Avenue and Century Boulevard.{{cite web | url=https://inglewoodtransitconnector.com/water-main-info-page/ | title=Water Main Info Page | date=April 30, 2024 }}

On July 22, 2024, the city of Inglewood announced that the project would be built and operated by Elevate Inglewood Partners.[https://www.cityofinglewood.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=761 Elevate Inglewood Partners Selected as ITC Developer.] The partnership includes Tutor Perini Corporation as lead contractor, Parsons Transportation Group as lead design company, a joint venture of Alternate Concepts, Inc. and Plenary Americas as lead operations and maintenance provider, and Woojin Industrial Systems as rolling stock technology provider.

Representative Maxine Waters, who had supported the project early on, came out against the project on July 18, 2024, writing a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg calling the project ridiculous and too costly as it would only serve the needs of visitors to the sports and entertainment venues and would not provide convenient connectivity for local residents. After the letter went out, the House stripped $200 million in funding for the project from a draft budget bill.{{Cite news |last=Uranga |first=Rachel |date=July 18, 2024 |title=Rep. Maxine Waters seeks to stop 'ridiculous' $2-billion SoFi transit project ahead of Olympics |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-07-18/rep-maxine-waters-sofi-stadium-people-mover-olympics |access-date=October 31, 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

At about the same time, Rams owner Stan Kroenke and Clippers owner Steve Ballmer came out against the project over concerns that it would cut into their property and could lead to the loss of a traffic lane outside of their stadiums. After the funding denial and amid opposition by Waters, Kroenke and Ballmer, Inglewood mayor James Butts conceded that the project was likely dead. He told the Los Angeles Times, "I don’t give up on anything, but I am realistic. It was voted down. So, for all intents and purposes, that’s it."{{Cite news |last=Uranga |first=Rachel |date=October 25, 2024 |title=Clippers and Rams owners come out against Inglewood people mover, as $2.4-billion project falters |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-10-25/clippers-and-rams-owners-come-out-against-inglewood-people-mover-as-2-4-billion-project-falters |access-date=October 31, 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

Initial cost of the project in 2018 was between $600 and $700 million. Costs ballooned to $2.2 billion by 2024. With funds coming from the federal government, the State of California and from Los Angeles County, it was not enough to cover the cost. Inglewood proposed using Measure M funds allocated to the South Bay region of Los Angeles. The South Bay Cities Council of Government denied the project an additional $493 million in October 2024 which was needed to build the line. It jeopardized the $1 billion of federal matching funds. The loss of local support due to cost ultimately stopped the people mover project.{{Cite news |last=Henry |first=Jason |date=October 25, 2024 |title=Inglewood people mover to SoFi Stadium dead after South Bay denies $500 million in funding |url=https://www.dailybreeze.com/2024/10/25/inglewood-people-mover-to-sofi-stadium-dead-after-south-bay-denies-500-million-in-funding/ |access-date=June 14, 2025 |work=Daily Breeze}}{{Cite web |last=Sharp |first=Steven |date=July 17, 2018 |title=Inglewood Considers People Mover to Connect Crenshaw Line with NFL Stadium |url=https://la.urbanize.city/post/inglewood-considers-people-mover-connect-crenshaw-line-nfl-stadium |website=Urbanize LA}} The revised project will focus on traffic relief and developing connected, walkable neighborhoods for residents and visitors by adding mobility hubs, bus-only lanes, and bike infrastructure.{{Cite news |last=Schlepp |first=Travis |date=April 22, 2025 |title=After people mover plans fall through, Inglewood pivots to dedicated bus lanes for transit connections |url=https://ktla.com/news/travel/inglewood-transit-project/ |work=KTLA}}

The automated transit system was planned to be fully elevated and travel from the Metro K Line's Downtown Inglewood Station at Market Street/Florence Avenue southbound along Market Street, eastbound along Manchester Boulevard, southbound along Prairie Avenue and terminate at Hardy Avenue. The Project plans had three stations including one at Market Street / Florence Avenue, Manchester Boulevard / Prairie Avenue, and Hardy Street / Prairie Avenue.{{Cite news |last=Sharp |first=Steven |last2= |last3= |first3= |date=2022-04-21 |title=Inglewood City Council approves $1.4B people mover |url=https://la.urbanize.city/post/inglewood-city-council-approves-14b-people-mover |access-date=2022-04-22 |work=Urbanize LA |language=en}}{{cite report |title=Envision Inglewood |url=http://envisioninglewood.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Envision-Inglewood-Locally-Preferred-Alternative-Report.pdf |publisher=City of Inglewood |access-date=April 22, 2020}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://inglewoodtransitconnector.com/ Inglewood Transit Connector project site]
• [https://www.elevateinglewoodpartners.com/ Elevate Inglewood Partners home page]

{{LA Mass Transit}}

{{Inglewood, California}}

Category:Inglewood, California

Category:Proposed railway lines in California

Category:2026 in rail transport

Category:Transportation in Los Angeles County, California

Category:People mover systems in the United States

Category:Los Angeles Metro Rail projects