After appearing in the film La La Land, the world-renowned, iconic, 116-year-old Angels Flight will reopen to the public after a three-year modernization process.
Soon Angelenos will be able to join Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone as Los Angeles reopens the Angels Flight Railway in September of 2017. Utilizing a unique public-private partnership between the Angels Flight Railroad Foundation and the ACS Group—with Dragados USA and project partner Sener Engineering—Angels Flight is scheduled to be in safe operation for the next 30 years.
Angels Flight is known as being the shortest railway in the world, measuring just over a mile long. It famously transported original Angelenos up the steep Bunker Hill that connected parts of the Downtown region. As part of the renovation, the famous wood panels are scheduled to be restored and the funicular will remain a civic treasure.
At a press conference last week, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that the California Public Utilities Commission has certified a plan that will operate Angels Flight by the highest standards of safety through rebuilding a reliable, sustainable structure. The famed attraction in Downtown Los Angeles has sat still after a 2013 derailment that caused no injuries, but exposed the aging infrastructure.
The Angles Flight Railway Foundation Board, featuring civic leaders such as Adele Yellin, Dennis Luna, Brenda Levin, John Welborne, and Geoffrey Yarema from the law firm Nossaman LLP, managed to keep the important civic monument going during the recession and closure. The reopening this fall will contribute to the unprecedented renaissance of Downtown Los Angeles.
Looking to capitalize on the city’s investment in public transportation, Mayor Garcetti announced that riders that use their LA Metro TAP cards would receive a 50% discount on all Angels Flight rides.
Notably, the Angels Flight Railway Foundation is utilizing a public-private partnership (P3) to fund and operate the funicular. This is one of the first uses of a P3 model in the City of Los Angeles, and will surely lead to more conversations about how to leverage private sector capital for public infrastructure.
FULL STORY: DTLA’s Angels Flight To Reopen By Labor Day Thanks To Historic P3
Advocating for Extension of Transportation Sales Tax in Los Angeles
Los Angeles Councilmember Mike Bonin talks mobility on the Westside and the region. With another transportation sales tax extension in the works, Bonin sees a sunny future for LA, but no easy fix to end congestion.
Can L.A.’s Streets Be Great? Deputy Mayor Rick Cole Opines
Los Angeles Deputy Mayor for Budget and Innovation Rick Cole shares his views on the critical ingredients necessary for the city to improve its thoroughfares at a Urban Land Institute-Los Angeles’ panel discussion titled "Can LA’s Streets Be Great?"
How L.A. Plans to Address Intersecting Issues of Homelessness and Open Space
In California, agencies are working to redefine enforcement and safety procedures as the number of homeless individuals who seek refuge in vulnerable open or wild landscapes continue to increase.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
How Trump's HUD Budget Proposal Would Harm Homelessness Response
Experts say the change to the HUD budget would make it more difficult to identify people who are homeless and connect them with services, and to prevent homelessness.
The Vast Potential of the Right-of-Way
One writer argues that the space between two building faces is the most important element of the built environment.
Florida Seniors Face Rising Homelessness Risk
High housing costs are pushing more seniors, many of them on a fixed income, into homelessness.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont