Last time, we addressed the L.A. City Council’s stunning rebuke of the Dodgers Gondola project. The original plan was to go over Dodger Stadium Express ridership numbers and discuss alternative methods.

While sifting through L.A. Metro reports (I know; I need a significant other), I stumbled upon some breaking news, which takes a sledgehammer to the best-laid plans of mice and men.

The Gondola Project returns to the Executive Management Committee of L.A. Metro

While looking up total ridership numbers for the Dodger Stadium Express, I noticed that the Executive Management Committee agenda had been updated. Curious, I skimmed the agenda to see what had changed, which led to this short update.

At 11:00 am on Thursday, the Executive Management Committee will consider whether to set aside the February 2024 Approval to recertify the Supplemental Environmental Impact Report and Reapprove the project.

Considering that the L.A. City Council voted 12-1 last week to urge L.A. Metro to kill the project. The fact that Mayor Karen Bass sits on the Executive Management Committee, and the fact that the Council’s resolution does not take effect unless Mayor Bass concurs, this typically anodyne executive meeting of the transportation board has the potential to be quite interesting indeed.

Currently, the Committee is chaired by Fernando Dutra, an appointee of the Los Angeles County City Selection Committee. Mayor Bass is the Vice Chair. Los Angeles County Board Supervisors Kathryn Barger, Janice Hahn, Hilda L. Solis, Appointee of the Mayor Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, and District 7 Director Gloria Roberts (non-voting member) round out the rest of the Committee.

For those who wish to attend, the meeting is being held at One Gateway Plaza, 3rd Floor (Metro Board Room), Los Angeles, CA. For those who wish to watch online, visit https://boardagendas.metro.net. Those who want to leave a public comment must do so by 5 pm Pacific on Wednesday.

For those who wish to comment on the Gondola Project, email BoardClerk@metro.net, and include the agenda number in the subject line, 2025-0953, and your position of “FOR,” “AGAINST,” “GENERAL COMMENT,” or “ITEM NEEDS MORE CONSIDERATION.”

If L.A. Metro approves the vote on Thursday, the project is roughly back to where it was in February 2024, except there are 21 fewer months to secure the remaining approvals, which feel doubtful in the current environment, secure funding, and complete construction in time for the July 2028 Olympic Games.

If L.A. Metro rejects the vote, the project is probably effectively dead, given the time constraints and the local political climate. If L.A. Metro punts on the vote, the status quo will remain in place until a final decision is made.

Regardless, we will continue to monitor this story and update as appropriate, either a transportation hypothetical covering both Dodger Stadium Express and alternatives, and/or the end of the Dodgers Gondola Project.