The Los Angeles Dodgers and Aerial Rapid Transit Technologies LLC (ARTT) unveiled plans for an aerial rapid transit connection that will run from Union Station to Dodger Stadium. The system will provide the first permanent public transit link and will only take around five minutes.
“This is a major investment in the future of Los Angeles, with a zero-emission, sustainable technology that is increasingly popular for urban areas throughout the world,” Martha Welborne, Project Director of ARTT, said in a press release. “We look forward to working with Metro to make it a reality.”
The proposed system will be able to move more than 5,000 passengers per hour, per direction, and should help greatly with the traffic both around Dodger Stadium and downtown Los Angeles.
As it currently stands, the existing Metro system only currently provides a game-day shuttle connection to Union Station, which can take a while due to traffic before and after games.
ARTT expects that this new system will cost less than parking at Dodger Stadium for those attending games, and the system is a zero-emission transit line, so it is good for the environment.
Total project costs are estimated to be approximately $125 million, and ARTT will provide the necessary funding for the project. They are planning to begin the public review process in late-2018 so that approvals, including final station and route selection, can take place in 2019-2020. The aerial system is expected to begin operations in 2022.
Under the current plans, each cabin would be able to hold around 30-40 passengers, and the system will serve all Dodgers home games and special events at Dodger Stadium. It can also possibly operate daily to serve visitors seeking to enjoy the scenic gondola experience.
For those worried about safety, they plan to take both the Metro and Dodger Stadium security policies into account when forming theirs, so it should be one of the safest forms of transportation available.
