Urgent
Los Angeles Aerial Rapid Transit (LA ART/Gondola) Project
Urgent
The Gondola project -a private development project using public land – threatens some of L.A.’s oldest communities.
Issue Details
Government Officials
Development Approval Process
Overview
The Los Angeles Aerial Rapid Transit (LA ART), or the Gondola, is a private development that would connect Los Angeles Union Station to Dodger Stadium via an aerial gondola system. The project would irrevocably impact historic resources at Union Station, El Pueblo, Chinatown, and the Los Angeles State Historic Park.
Update: On April 17, 2026, California State Parks launched a聽 to present Draft General Plan Amendment (GPA) Options and potential future park programming and facilities for the Los Angeles State Historic Park. This is an important step in the approval process for the LA ART/Gondola project. The deadline for public comment is May 18, 2026.聽We support Draft GPA Option 1: No Action. For more information about our position, go to “Our Position.”
About This Issue
Former Dodger’s owner Frank McCourt proposed the gondola project on public land in one of the oldest parts of Los Angeles in 2018. McCourt partnered with Aerial Rapid Transit Technologies, LLC to fund the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and preliminary design. In 2023, McCourt Global gifted the project to a new entity, Zero Emission Technologies (ZET), which will be responsible for building, financing and operating the gondola.
During Metro’s approval process, the Conservancy raised concerns about the cumulative impacts to historic places and spaces in the project’s location, including Union Station, El Pueblo, Los Angeles State Historic Park, and Chinatown. Despite widespread opposition, on February 22, 2024, the Metro Board approved the LA ART Project and certified its EIR. Metro’s approval was the first of several required for this project.
Following Metro’s approval in 2024, the Project was challenged in two separate lawsuits by the Los Angeles Park Alliance and The California Endowment, which resulted in an opinion from the Court of Appeal in May 2025. The Court found the Project did not adequately address how to mitigate construction noise for nearby residents and directed Metro to prepare a Supplemental EIR (SEIR) to address construction noise mitigation issues.
Metro released a (DSEIR) on September 29, 2025 for a 45-day comment period. To view the comment letter submitted by the Conservancy, click here.
Despite opposition, the Metro Board re-certified the Project on December 4, 2025. The Project still requires additional approvals from several public agencies before going back to Metro for construction approval.
District 1 Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez initiated a motion in March 2024 to consider the results and recommendations of the Dodger Stadium Traffic Assessment before taking actions related, but not limited, to the issuance of permits and entitlements for the Project. The Dodger Stadium Traffic Assessment is intended to identify needed transportation improvements and will seek robust community engagement.
In November 2025, the Los Angeles City Council voted 12-1 to formally oppose the Project, urging Metro to reject the project due to concerns about public land use, environmental impacts, lack of a financial plan, and minimal traffic benefits, though the final decision rests with Metro and other agencies.
Our Position
The Conservancy is one of 29 local organizations that opposed this project, including the coalition. We advocated for the L.A. Metro Board to deny the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in favor of environmentally superior alternatives that would not harm the surrounding communities and their historic and cultural resources. We raised various concerns about the overall project, including sighting, proximity, signage, lighting, noise and construction. To see our full Final EIR comment letter, click here.
Following a Court of Appeal ruling on May 1, 2025, Metro was directed to prepare a Supplemental EIR (SEIR) to address the Project’s temporary construction noise mitigation issues. To view the Conservancy’s comment letter, click here.
The Metro Board re-certified the Project, as supplemented by the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report on December 4, 2025.
In November 2024, the California State Parks initiated a General Plan Amendment process for Los Angeles State Historic Park to review and consider direct transit access via the proposed LA ART project. A was held on November 12, 2024. To view a diagram of the Los Angeles State Historic Park General Plan Amendment process, go . The period to provide initial input to California State Parks’ General Plan Amendment process for Los Angeles State Historic Park is closed. View the Conservancy’s comment letter here.
- 鈥淰isitors to Los Angeles State Historic Park will enjoy a rejuvenating respite from the surrounding urban landscape in an expansive open space鈥 (Los Angeles State Historic Park General Plan and Final EIR 69).
- 鈥淔acilities will be placed to maximize visitor and staff use while minimizing negative effects on viewsheds, cultural or natural resources, or user conflicts鈥澛(Los Angeles State Historic Park General Plan and Final EIR 92).
SA国际传媒 how you can support this issue by navigating to the “How You Can Help” tab.
Background
The Los Angeles Plaza Historic District, better known as El Pueblo, is a collection of some of Los Angeles鈥檚 earliest historic resources dating to 1818. In 1970, the Los Angeles Plaza Park was designated as Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM) #64 and initially listed on the National Register in 1972. As shown in project renderings, the Alameda station with its wires and gondolas would obstruct views from various locations within the historic district. Further, Alameda would go from an open airy corridor to one that compresses passersby below a massive structure that crowds and disrupts the existing relationship between Union Station and El Pueblo.
Cumulative impacts to the historic view shed in the vicinity of the proposed Alameda Station greatly alters the feeling and setting of this historic area. The location and massing of the Alameda Station are highly problematic and detrimental to the overall experience of significant historic places, including Union Station and Los Angeles Plaza Historic District. We proposed Metro and LA ART relocate the Alameda Station further to the north closer to the Mosaic Apartments to lessen the impacts to Union Station and Los Angeles Plaza Historic District, but no changes were made to the location of the proposed station prior to its approval.
In summary, our issues of concern are:
1. The purpose and need for LA ART is not fully demonstrated when environmentally superior alternatives are identified and available to be implemented
The Conservancy questions the purpose and need of the proposed project and has serious concerns about the cumulative impacts of the project on the surrounding areas.
At present, the Dodger Stadium Express is a popular mode of transportation on game days and would benefit from added investment. However, the report聽fails to fully and accurately analyze a future bus system that accounts for an electric bus fleet聽that would create a zero-emission system with potential for serving a larger range of users. The EIR has deemed the bus alternative the Environmentally Superior Alternative with less overall impact to the environment.
2. Historic and cultural resources and view sheds will be impacted and irreparably harmed by the LA ART Project
It is the Conservancy鈥檚 position that historic and cultural resources and view sheds will be significantly impacted by the proposed project.
If built, the LA ART will obscure the view, setting, and future overall experience of various historic places and spaces, including Union Station, El Pueblo, Los Angeles State Historic Park, and Chinatown. The Conservancy disagrees with the report鈥檚 findings and believes there would be significant impacts to numerous historic resources by altering their historic setting and overall feeling. With an imposing new Alameda Station that extends into National Register and Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM) boundaries, visitor鈥檚 experiences of Union Station would be dramatically changed.
While walking Olvera Street, the LA ART鈥檚 cables and gondolas would be seen passing by and from within the Avila Adobe on Olvera Street, L.A.鈥檚 oldest historic building, the Alameda Station would tower overhead.聽 These visual impacts mixed with new signage, lighting, noise, and construction would prove detrimental to the overall vitality of the historic resource.
3. Draft EIR does not adequately address the proposed use and transfer of public rights-of-way and lands, applicable general plans, permitted legal use, and is in conflict with Public Resources Code 5019.59
The Conservancy is concerned by the project鈥檚 use of publicly-owned parcels for private use as detailed in the report. Such land would be better suited for affordable housing with its proximity to City services and employment opportunities.
4. Should the proposed project anticipate federal funding, Section 106 and Section 4(f) would be triggered and additional environmental review would be required
Given the project鈥檚 ridership, size, and station encroachment into Union Station and LA State historic Park, it is foreseable that additional government funds will be accessed despite claims to be 100% privately funded. Should that occur additional environmental reviews at the federal level will be triggered. It is common practice for the applicant/developer to submit federal environmental reviews in tandem with CEQA which is not how LAART is proceding at this time.
5. Transfer CEQA lead agency authority to the City of Los Angeles
Lastly, the Conservancy believes the City of Los Angeles is better suited to serve as the Project鈥檚 lead agency under CEQA as it would be responsible for granting the majority of the Project鈥檚 permits.
You may view the full Metro Board meeting, .
How You Can Help
Your support is needed before May 18, 2026. Join the Conservancy and over 29 local organizations in opposing the LA ART/Gondola project at this critical step in the project鈥檚 approval.
Go to California State Parks’ Page 6 and select Draft GPA Option 1: No Action.
- 鈥淰isitors to Los Angeles State Historic Park will enjoy a rejuvenating respite from the surrounding urban landscape in an expansive open space鈥 (Los Angeles State Historic Park General Plan and Final EIR 69).
- 鈥淔acilities will be placed to maximize visitor and staff use while minimizing negative effects on viewsheds, cultural or natural resources, or user conflicts鈥澛(Los Angeles State Historic Park General Plan and Final EIR 92).
Tell California State Parks NO to a Transit-Use Area for the purpose of travel to Dodger Stadium! Draft GPA Option 1: No Action!