Inglewood’s has slammed the brakes on plans to build a $2.2-billion-dollar shuttle that would move people to Intuit-Dome and So-Fi Stadium.
The South Bay denied the city $500 million in funding to build the people mover that was supposed to ease up traffic around the city’s venues.
Dimitrius Vendegriff said that as disabled combat veteran, he would have benefited from the shuttle.
“I, myself, would be able to go from the venue and take those people a little closer and have less of a walk,” he said.
Local businesses along Market Street have opposed the people mover, saying they would be forced to relocate.
Vendegriff said he understands that point, but with the Kia Forum and other major venues in town, people like him need a way to get there: “And for a lot of other people that want to find maybe a less expensive way to enjoy the venue, and maybe not park and spend a hundred dollars to park, right?”
But beach cities like Torrance, El Segundo and Manhattan Beach weren’t willing to shell out an additional $500 million in taxpayer funds to start the project, after already pledging $368 million.
U.S. Representative Maxine Waters, whose district includes Inglewood, has opposed the project, calling it “outrageously expensive” and a “boondoggle.”
Venue owners have also spoken out against the project, saying although the people mover was meant to help business, it would jam up Prairie Avenue during a time when the city would be preparing for the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic games.
Inglewood Mayor James Butts says the news is disappointing, but the city will move on.