Los Angeles Transit System

When I see Los Angeles, I see a makeup of different cultures and backgrounds.  It is a city 

made up of many diverse people.  From endless restaurants to vibrant nightlife, there is 

something here that everyone can enjoy.  It is a fluctuating city that is still growing to this day.

     Having been in Los Angeles my whole life, I still feel that I haven’t partook in everything it 

has to offer from its endless trails, vibrant beaches, and the many restaurants.  It is a place for everyone and is composed of many cultural backgrounds.  Being the host city for many big upcoming events, such as the FIFA World Cup and the LA 28 Olympics, it needs a large 

transportation infrastructure to support all those people, and that is where I think I engage with the city the most.

     Metro, which is the city’s public transportation system, is something that I often use. 

Particularly in the downtown area, people tend to use public transit more than cars.  This system is getting a major redesign in its structure due to its large scale upcoming events and it will need to revamp in order to support all those extra people.  The City of Los Angeles is partaking in a plan called 28 by 28 where it will have completed 28 projects by 2028 in order to have the infrastructure in preparation for the Olympics.  This includes revamping bus and train lines while creating and repairing bike paths.  Projects like these are what make Los Angeles able to keep running and able to keep on growing.

     Being a user of these public services makes me realize how robust and large these systems are in order to keep the city running.  From adding a new bus stop at USC to adding more accessible ways to get to LAX, Los Angeles is always doing to something to keep the city connected.  In early history, Los Angeles was just a place filled with farmland and unpaved dirt roads, now it is a place filled with bustling skyscrapers and endless paths.

     One thing that defines Los Angeles is its cultural inheritance.  It has inherited so many great traditions and foods from Non-American backgrounds.  You can find great Mexican, Chinese, etc, restaurants here and that is what makes this city so incredible.  Being able to go eat at authentic restaurants from other cultures are truly great as you can take in food from all cultures.  Although some restaurants may seem like a couple miles away from each other, Los Angeles is known for how bad the traffic is.  Often times a distant of 5-10 miles can sometimes take over an hour depending on what part you’re in.  This is why so many people call on increased transit accessibility so that more people can assess the public transit without having to get stuck in traffic. 

     Key initiatives such as Metro’s project are helping this concern.  Another big project is 

California’s High-Speed Rail project which is aiming to connect Los Angeles and San Francisco.  This project initially took voting in 2008 but are still facing heavy delays today with an anticipated completion of 2032 that still isn’t guaranteed.  Drawbacks in funding and major budget cuts are the main reasons for this delay.  Once completed, this would be a major addition for Angelinos as they would have easier and more affordable ways to get to Northern California instead of having to buy a plane ticket.  

     Projects like these are what I engage with the city the most.  The city is still growing to 

accommodate the millions of people that live in it.  Los Angeles public transit system helps me maneuver throughout the city and allows me to explore new areas without having to be stuck in traffic.