Los Angeles, CA – A high-profile proposal to build a gondola system connecting Union Station to Dodger Stadium has encountered major resistance after the Los Angeles City Council voted overwhelmingly to advise transportation officials to stop the project. The plan, first reported by AP, has stirred strong debate across the city.
Council Urges Metro to End the Gondola Project
In a decisive 12–1 vote, City Council members approved a resolution urging the LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) to terminate the proposed aerial tramway. Although the resolution requires approval from Mayor Karen Bass, her stance remains unclear. Bass previously supported the project in her role as a Metro board member, but her office has not yet commented on whether she will sign off on the council’s vote.
A formal council vote on full project approval is expected next year. However, this week’s action signals a significant setback for developers hoping to see the gondola built.
What the $500 Million Gondola Would Have Delivered
The proposed system, estimated to cost $500 million, would carry thousands of fans from Union Station to Dodger Stadium—about a mile away—in roughly five minutes. Supporters argue the gondola would:
- Help fans avoid heavy pre- and post-game traffic
- Operate without using taxpayer dollars
- Reduce environmental strain by lowering car usage
- Move up to 5,000 riders per hour in each direction
- Offer a safe, clean and quiet transportation alternative
The project was initially introduced in 2018 by Aerial Rapid Transit Technologies, a company founded by former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, which pledged to fund part of the project privately.
Critics Say Benefits Are Overstated and Impacts Underplayed
Opposition groups and some council members have raised concerns that the gondola would not significantly reduce congestion. They argue that fans may still drive downtown to board the tram instead of relying on Metro’s bus and rail network, limiting the system’s environmental impact.
The nonprofit group Stop The Gondola has challenged the project on several fronts:
- Lack of a transparent financial plan raises fears taxpayers may ultimately pay for construction or long-term maintenance
- Potential removal of 150+ trees along the route
- Possible years of heavy construction disrupting neighborhoods
- Installation of large support towers creating visual “eyesores” in lower-income communities situated between Union Station and the stadium
Critics emphasize that the city should prioritise improving existing public transit rather than building an expensive new system that may not meaningfully reduce car travel.
Los Angeles’ Transit Challenge
The gondola proposal aimed to encourage fans to take Metro buses and trains to Union Station, then transfer to the aerial system. But Los Angeles’ vast, car-centric layout makes this vision difficult. Many residents live far from transit lines, and public transport usage remains notably lower compared to other large U.S. cities.
Given these structural challenges, some officials say the gondola risks becoming an underused novelty rather than a meaningful transportation solution.
Project Faces an Uncertain Future
Although the current vote is advisory, it represents a significant political shift against the project. Developers now face an uphill climb to secure approval and funding, especially without mayoral backing.
As Los Angeles debates its broader transportation future—from congestion relief to environmental sustainability—the fate of the Dodger Stadium gondola will be closely watched as a test of the city’s appetite for bold, unconventional infrastructure.
