LOS ANGELES, CA — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced that the Los Angeles metro area will receive nearly $90 million for transit costs associated with hosting the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games. Padilla’s announcement comes ahead of the Federal Transit Administration’s expected notification today of funds for Olympics costs across the country. Other cities in California hosting events will receive additional funding, bringing California’s total funding to more than $91 million. The funding, which Padilla has championed for years, was included as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill passed earlier this year. Funding will be distributed via the Federal Transit Administration to support the increased operating, planning, and capital activities necessary to welcome the millions of visitors California is expected to see during the games.
“As Los Angeles prepares to host thousands of athletes and millions of fans for the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, I have been working relentlessly to ensure all the resources needed are in place for smooth games,” said Senator Padilla. “This crucial funding will improve our public transit infrastructure to get fans and Angelenos safely, efficiently, and reliably around the city as we excitedly welcome the world to the City of Angels. This is an important milestone, and I look forward to working with the Federal Transit Administration and my Senate colleagues to build on this progress to deliver the full transportation investment needed to make these Games a success.
“LA Metro welcomes the leadership of U.S. Senator Alex Padilla in securing these much-needed transportation funds for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said LA Metro Board Chair Fernando Dutra. “The funding that will be allocated today by the FTA represents an important downpayment on the total federal funding necessary to implement our world class mobility plans for what will be the largest sporting event in American history. Working together with our local, regional, and national partners and with adequate federal funding, LA Metro seeks to partner with LA28 to implement a safe, secure, efficient, and accessible transportation plan for the 2028 Games that will make America the envy of the world.”
“This important funding would not have happened but for the ongoing work of Senator Padilla and his commitment to making the LA28 Games a regional success,” said Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle. “Metrolink is excited to serve as the regional rail provider moving spectators to various Olympic venues within our service area. We look forward to continuing working with Senator Padilla and our local partners to seek additional funding in the coming years.”
Senator Padilla has been a strong advocate for critical funding to ensure the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games and 2026 World Cup are a success, despite the administration’s FY26 and FY27 budget proposals not requesting Olympics transportation funding. Earlier this year, he and U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) announced that the Los Angeles region and the San Francisco Bay Area will receive a combined $18.4 million for transit costs associated with hosting World Cup matches this summer. In 2024, Senator Padilla joined a bipartisan group of 20 Senators in calling on President Biden to establish a White House Task Force on Global Sporting Events in preparation for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.