Inglewood Advances Transit Improvements Near SoFi Stadium, Revises People Mover Plans
Inglewood, California, is moving forward with significant mobility improvements surrounding SoFi Stadium and other major entertainment venues, though the original vision of an elevated people mover has been scaled back. The Inglewood City Council recently approved eminent domain proceedings for eight properties to facilitate the construction of a modern transit hub connecting to the K Line rail extension.
New Transit Hub and Mobility Hub Network
The properties, located on Florence Avenue and Market Street near the Downtown Inglewood K Line station, will be developed into a transit hub featuring bus bays, electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities, and a parking structure. A pedestrian overcrossing will connect the hub to the adjacent Metro station. Urbanize LA reports this is one of four planned mobility hubs in the area.
The additional hubs will be located on:
- La Brea Avenue, south of Manchester Avenue
- Hawthorne Boulevard, north of the C Line and I-105 Freeway
- Prairie Avenue, north of the I-105 Freeway
These hubs will support two dedicated bus routes serving SoFi Stadium, connecting to the C Line at Hawthorne/Lennox Station and the K Line at Downtown Inglewood Station. Plans include dedicated bus lanes on La Brea Avenue/Hawthorne Boulevard and Arbor Vitae Streets, with mixed-flow operations on other corridors like Century Boulevard and Crenshaw Boulevard.
Pedestrian and Streetscape Improvements
The project similarly prioritizes improving pedestrian connections between SoFi Stadium, Intuit Dome, and the Kia Forum through upgrades to Market Street and Manchester Boulevard. The city anticipates providing grants for storefront improvements along Market Street, alongside investments in public realm enhancements like new sidewalks, seating, landscaping, and lighting.
From People Mover to Bus Rapid Transit
While the initial plan involved a 1.6-mile elevated automated people mover – the Inglewood Transit Connector – connecting the K Line to the venues, those plans faced funding challenges and political opposition. Wikipedia details the project’s transition to a bus-focused transit improvement project with dedicated bus lanes. The original people mover project had attracted over $1 billion in funding, but was ultimately shelved in 2024.
The current plan focuses on streetscape overhauls, mobility hubs, and bus lane construction, scheduled between 2026 and 2028, with completion targeted before the 2028 Summer Olympics. Inglewood may revisit the possibility of a grade-separated people mover system after this phase is complete.
Project Management
The Inglewood Transit Connector Project is managed by the Inglewood Transit Connector Joint Powers Authority (ITCJPA), a partnership between the City of Inglewood and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro).