Los Angeles residents have a lot of questions about a controversial plan to build a gondola connecting Union Station in downtown to Dodger Stadium.
California State Parks hosted a virtual meeting on Tuesday night to go over a proposed amendment to the plan that would allow it to be built over L.A. State Historic Park, which opponents have argued would threaten the 32-acre green space.
Alex Stehl, the deputy director of planning at State Parks, clarified during the meeting that the amendment is not a done deal.
“As we move through this process, we're going to be looking at whether or not it's feasible for this project to be in the park, and how would it be feasible,” she said.
What would the gondola do exactly?
The project, officially named LA Art, would connect the stadium, station, and Elysian Park.
It would include three stations — one near El Pueblo, a Chinatown / State Park station, and another at Dodger Stadium. Three towers and a junction would also need to be built, as well as a system of cables and cabins.
Officials said it would provide access to surrounding communities, including Chinatown, Mission Junction, and Solano Canyon. It would operate daily, with the roughly 1 mile ride taking 7 minutes each way.
“LA ART would provide safe, zero emission, environmentally friendly, and high-capacity transit connectivity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions as a result of reduced vehicular congestion in and around Dodger Stadium and on neighborhood streets, arterial roadways, and freeways,” according to a presentation during the meeting.
Most of the park wouldn’t be beneath the project, which would be along the westernmost edge. The cabins would soar anywhere from 26 to 53 feet over the area.
Questions from residents
The meeting was translated into five languages, including Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Taishanese.
All of the questions and comments were sent directly to the moderators, and members of the public were not identified or able to share their thoughts verbally.
Some people asked about access to the park, given that it's currently free to visit. Stehl said they don’t intend to change that.
“People would still be able to access this park as they do now,” she said. “Of course, depending on things like special events or other things happening in the area, which sometimes does close off sections of the park, but there's no intent to limit access to the park.”
One person expressed concerns about the visual impact of the gondola and all its infrastructure, which Stehl said would be taken into account throughout the General Plan Amendment process.
Others asked if officials will be gathering information on the losses and risks to the park, and Stehl confirmed they are.
Another asked who will be responsible for operating and maintaining the gondola, such as the city or a private company. Stehl said that’s part of what’s going to be discussed over the next year, and into the future should they move forward.
What is a general plan? Why does it matter?
The General Plan accounts for conceptual goals and guidelines for long-term land use, management, and operations of the park, among others.
The first step is to collect input from the public, which is where we are now.
Officials will then develop amendment options, present the draft plan to the public for their feedback, and then submit the final draft to the State Park and Recreation Commission for its consideration.
The process will involve public outreach, and there will be multiple opportunities for people to comment and share their input, officials said.
Once that’s completed, the project will need several approvals and agreements from State Parks.
Those include a right of entry permit to construct a gondola station in the park, and real property agreements for aerial rights requirements. It’ll also need operational agreements for day to day operations such as hours, security, and programming.
How you can stay up to date
Any and all feedback received by Dec. 15 will be considered as the process moves forward.
You can do that through the General Plan Amendment website here, or email lastatehistoricparkgpa@parks.ca.gov.
You can also share your thoughts via mail by sending it to:
Strategic Planning and Recreation Services Division
c/o LASHP GPA
PO Box 942896, Sacramento, CA, 94296
The PDF form is available in English, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese.
And you sign up for the email list here.
