U.S. Congresswoman Laura Friedman announced she has secured federal funding to upgrade rider experience across two of Los Angeles’ largest transit systems – for LA Metro buses and Metrolink rail stations in her district – ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Friedman, who represents District 30, made the July 7 announcement at the Glendale Metrolink station. She said the two federal investments – $250,000 for each transit system – will help LA be ready to welcome the millions of visitors expected to travel to LA and use public transit.
The Bus Stop Enhancement Program will provide: shaded areas to protect riders from the sun and heat; upgraded seating, lighting and accessibility; and real-time arrival information so riders will know when the next bus is arriving.
The planned upgrades for the Metrolink stations in Glendale and downtown Burbank will include: new displays showing every arrival and departure, and whether a train is on time, delayed or canceled; and improved public-address systems and real-time service alerts for riders.
“In a little over two years, the eyes of the entire world are going to be on stations and bus stops exactly like this during the 2028 Olympics,” said Friedman, who was joined by Glendale Mayor Ardy Kassakhian, Glendale City Councilmember Dan Brotman, Metrolink Chief Strategy Officer Paul Hubler and LA Metro Chief Planning Officer Ray Sosa.
LA County has more than 13,000 bus stops, and a significant number currently offer no shade, no seating and “no way for riders to know when the next bus is coming,” noted Friedman.
“If you’re … an out-of-town visitor, like we’re going to have so many thousands of during the Olympics, or someone who doesn’t speak English as a first language, an outdated sign or a missed announcement can mean a missed train or a bus, and a missed event,” she said. “That’s why today I’m proud to announce [these] federal investments … to help turn barebones bus stops across our district into bus stops with shade, with seating and with lighting, with real-time arrival information … [and] to modernize the customer information systems [for] Metrolink [stations].”
The announcement builds on Friedman’s work to help make local public transit safer, more reliable and more affordable, including supporting the bipartisan Safe and Affordable Transit Act, legislation to improve public transit safety for riders and for the workers who operate it.