Metro Olympics Committee Grants Approval to Hahn's Water Taxi Plan
In the lead-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games, city officials are exploring the feasibility of a water taxi service connecting San Pedro and Long Beach. The innovative proposal, put forth by Janice Hahn, Chair of the Metro Board of Directors and Los Angeles County Supervisor, aims to facilitate easy movement between the two sailing venues and offer a fun and environmentally-friendly transportation option.
The water taxi could potentially relieve traffic congestion in and around Long Beach and on the Vincent Thomas Bridge by allowing Olympics attendees to park at the Harbor Gateway Transit Center in Gardena and take the J Line to San Pedro to catch the water taxi. This would not only alleviate traffic but also provide a reliable, affordable, and enjoyable transportation alternative for residents, workers, and tourists.
Long Beach is set to host 11 sports during the Games, making it the second-highest number of sporting events after Los Angeles. Beach volleyball will take place at Alamitos Beach, coastal rowing at the Waterfront, and sport climbing and water polo at the Long Beach Convention Center.
The water taxi proposal has garnered widespread support from various organizations and officials, including Mayor Karen Bass, Metro Vice Chair Fernando Dutra, Inglewood Mayor James Butts, and Director Jacquelin Dupont-Walker. Local representatives such as ILWU Local 13, Los Angeles City Councilmember Tim McOsker, Long Beach Councilwoman Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, Long Beach Councilwoman Mary Zendejas, the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, the LA Maritime Institute, the Battleship Iowa, and LA Harbor Commissioner Lee Williams have also voiced their strong support for the proposal.
Existing water transportation options in the Long Beach area, including seasonal water taxis and the Aqualink service, indicate that operating water taxis are practical in the region. Long Beach Transit already operates two water taxi services: the AquaBus and the AquaLink. These services, which operate between local points like the Queen Mary and Alamitos Bay Landing, mainly during summer months, provide a positive precedent for expanded Olympic water transit. Moreover, Long Beach Transit offers low-cost fares and bicycle-friendly accommodation on its water taxis and shuttles.
The feasibility of the water taxi service is currently under exploration by city officials with LA28 collaboration, but no definitive plans have been released as of mid-2025. Further announcements are expected as the Games approach and planning progresses to finalize transport logistics between these sailing venues.
Interestingly, there is precedent for Hahn's proposed water taxi; a water ferry service between San Pedro and Long Beach with a stop at Terminal Island existed before the construction of the Vincent Thomas Bridge. This historical fact underscores the potential viability of the water taxi service in the modern context.
On May 14, 2025, Metro's Ad-Hoc Committee on the Olympic and Paralympic Games approved the exploration of a water taxi between San Pedro and Long Beach during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games. As planning progresses and the Games draw closer, we can expect to see more details about this exciting transportation proposal emerge.
- The community news has reported that the city council, led by Janice Hahn, is considering a water taxi service between San Pedro and Long Beach as part of the transportation options for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.
- The water taxi, if implemented, could be a significant event in the industry of urban transportation, providing an environmentally-friendly and affordable alternative to traditional modes of transport, especially during the Games.
- The finance aspect of the proposal is yet to be fully explored, but with support from various organizations and officials, including Mayor Karen Bass and the LA28 collaboration, they aim to ensure the service is accessible to residents, workers, and tourists within the community.
