SCAG Receives $6 Million to Support Safe Streets Ahead of 2028 Olympics and Paralympics

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) has been awarded $6 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) to improve pedestrian safety and access leading up to the 2026 World Cup, 2027 Super Bowl, and 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games. 

SCAG’s Events and Games Pedestrian Safety Program leverages a once-in-a-generation convergence of global events to address the disproportionate number of pedestrian and bicycling injuries and deaths along high-traffic corridors. According to the Connect SoCal 2024 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, 65 percent of fatalities and serious injuries occur on just 5.5 percent of the region’s transportation network. Additional research shows that people walking or riding bikes account for nearly 34 percent of regional traffic deaths despite comprising only about 3 percent of all trips. 

“We are excited to receive this critical funding from U.S. DOT’s Safe Streets 4 All Program to support an important work. As one of the world’s most popular tourism destinations, Southern California is expected to host more than 5 million additional visitors for the World Cup, Super Bowl, and Olympics. The Events and Games Pedestrian Safety Program is designed to provide a safe, accessible experience during these high-profile events and use what we learn to make lasting improvements to our active transportation infrastructure,” said SCAG Executive Director Kome Ajise. 

Specifically, the funding will support the Pedestrianization of Roadways for LA28 and Beyond, a partnership between SCAG and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation (L.A. DOT), to create safe street reconfigurations along key corridors in the city of Los Angeles. L.A. DOT will plan and implement street reconfigurations on corridors that prioritize safety for walking, biking, and riding transit while ensuring high volumes of travel. In addition to supporting the 2028 Olympic games, these demonstrations will allow SCAG to establish regional best practices for more permanent projects in the future.