(BPT) - Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy, particularly in Los Angeles. The county is home to more than 1.3 million small businesses, which provide the majority of jobs and income to the 10 million residents of this area.
One would think that the number of people driving in LA would be a boon to local businesses. However, the daily rush-hour traffic - not to mention sports and entertainment events - hurt businesses in the long run.
"Dodger fans will often drive up from here, causing tremendous amounts of traffic," said Su Ling Lei, owner of the Jade Wok restaurant. In his 38 years of operating a business in Chinatown, he's seen firsthand how traffic negatively impacts his and other businesses in the area. "Our customers are unable to pick up their orders. Some customers want to dine in but are unable to do so because of the traffic issue."
Given the recent "Carmageddon" caused by fans flocking to Game 1 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium and upcoming major events like the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics, innovative methods to reduce traffic are sorely needed.
How a novel method can solve a longstanding problem
While no magic bullet can fix LA's traffic issues, a new project aims to reduce the traffic in Downtown Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Aerial Rapid Transit (LA ART) is a proposed zero-emission aerial transit connection between Union Station and Dodger Stadium. The transit system's aerial gondola could move up to 5,000 people per hour per direction and transport 8,000 to 10,000 fans to Dodger Stadium in the two hours before the start of a game or event.
Rather than sitting in traffic, fans will enjoy a scenic ride from downtown to Dodger Stadium in just seven minutes. Projections suggest that LA ART could eliminate tens of thousands of game-day car trips to Dodger Stadium every season, greatly improve the flow of traffic and reduce the impacts of congestion on nearby freeways and surrounding areas.
Small business benefits
When asked what they thought about the project, many small-business owners see potential benefits to their establishments. In fact, more than 400 businesses in Chinatown, El Pueblo and Lincoln Heights have signed up to support the project.
In his opinion piece published by Climate Resolve, Jason Fujimoto, a Los Angeles Chinatown Corp. Board Member, said, "The gondola will be transformative for the region. As the first permanent transit system to Dodger Stadium, it will allow visitors and locals to travel up and above traffic while increasing economic growth and foot traffic for our local businesses, restaurants and cultural landmarks."
Don Luis Camacho, owner and operator of the historic El Paseo Inn Restaurant in Olvera Street that sits next to a proposed tram stop, echoes Fujimoto's sentiment. He welcomes the extra foot traffic and is excited about the resources the project would bring to Downtown LA. "It would change things for the better. This is a rare opportunity, which can actually benefit this area and really bring much-needed resources."
Beyond the economics, these small businesses are also vital to the continued heritage and vibrancy of their communities.
"Chinatown is home to many unique and diverse small businesses that were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic," said Icy Zheng, owner of Eighty Eight Hair Salon. "We are glad to be welcoming visitors back after a difficult few years and are excited to work with LA ART to find ways to encourage Dodger fans to visit Chinatown before taking the gondola to a baseball game."
To learn more about the transit project and its benefits, visit https://laart.la/.