Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Historic Angels Flight To Reopen Labor Day 2017
The troubled funicular (Photo by via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr)
Angels Flight, everyone's favorite funicular, is returning by Labor Day. The announcement was made during a noontime press conference on Wednesday with Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles Councilmember Jose Huizar.
A release said that the reopening is made possible through a public-private partnership between ACS Infrastructure Development Inc and the nonprofit Angels Flight Railway Foundation. Other key partners were involved in the project to revive Angels Flight, with Metro and the City of Los Angeles also taking part. Speaking on efforts to get the funicular up and running again, Garcetti said that it was "The longest journey to the shortest ride ever."
Mayor Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles Councilmember Jose Huizar at Wednesday's press conference. (Photo by Julia Wick/LAist)
The mayor added that the reason why it closed in 2013 was because of operational issues; the L.A. Times reports that it had derailed. Sitting idle for years, Angels Flight had become a target for graffiti.
Garcetti emphasized his confidence that Angels Flight will be running in the best condition possible when it reopens. "I will be here riding it myself. That's how confident I am in these engineers," said Garcetti.
Also at this press conference: mock tickets from the earliest days of Angels Flight, which began operating in 1901. pic.twitter.com/T7baoihJOD
— Laura J. Nelson 🦅 (@laura_nelson) March 1, 2017
The CPUC confirms to me that in January, they approved a safety plan to bring Angels Flight up to state standards and get it running again.
— Laura J. Nelson 🦅 (@laura_nelson) March 1, 2017
Sponsored message
We'll be updating with more information.
With additional reporting by Julia Wick.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
