CONNECTSustainable Transportation Along the LA Waterfront
The LA Waterfront is fast becoming a premiere destination with little parking. As the Gateway to the LA for the cruise industry, World Cup and 2028 Olympics we need a sustainable way to move people around our waterfront. We would like to make use of existing rail right of ways that criss cross the harbor area to use electric trams to move passengers from the outer harbor cruise terminal to destinations along the LA Waterfront and adjacent public transit.
What is the primary issue area that your application will impact?
Public transit
In what stage of innovation is this project, program, or initiative?
Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)
What is your understanding of the issue that you are seeking to address?
An affordable transit solution that can connect people from an urban area to large parks and beautiful coastline.
Describe the project, program, or initiative this grant will support to address the issue.
We currently have a network of (4) red rubber trolleys that move local customers as well as cruise ship passengers around the LA Waterfront. They are free to use but expensive to run and maintain. They are becoming increasingly popular and we would like to expand our network to (A) reduce wait times and (B) add to our fleet with either electric trolleys or use existing right of ways to place secure and quick trams as can be seen at Disneyland.
Describe how Los Angeles County will be different if your work is successful.
First of all, LA County will be able to showcase a waterfront and coastline that has for decades been considered industrial, dirty and unusable. Now the LA Waterfront will be accessible to persons in more urban areas and may find it difficult to get out to Cabrillo beach and other points of interest. Furthermore the expansion of free transportation services along miles of coastline will be not only unique in LA County, but all over the world where beach access comes at a premium cost.
What evidence do you have that this project, program, or initiative is or will be successful, and how will you define and measure success?
This is an early stage project with an existing fleet of aging trolleys. They are currently being rehabilitated and set up with audiovisual systems to enhance the customer experience. The metrics of success will be comparing our current data of trolley usage and comparing that to how/or if it increases over time.
Approximately how many people will be impacted by this project, program, or initiative?
Direct Impact: 100,000.0
Indirect Impact: 200,000.0