L.A. mayoral race heats up over delayed and overbudget LAX people mover

Los Angeles voters will decide a mayor who must confront a host of transit issues, the most visible being the troubled Skylink people-mover at LAX. Originally budgeted at roughly $1.9 billion with a 2023 deadline, the 2.25-mile automated train is now slated to start operating no earlier than January 2027 and its cost has swelled to over $3.3 billion, a 74 percent increase. Candidate Nithya Raman criticizes Mayor Karen Bass and the airport commissioners for not curbing overruns and for missing the promised January 2026 start date, while Bass contends the project's setbacks began before her administration and that a settlement was secured to define a clear endpoint.

The dispute has become a focal point in the campaign, reflecting broader concerns about stalled street-improvement projects and the need for reliable public transit ahead of the 2028 Olympics. Both candidates support expanding Metro’s rail and bus network, but differ on priorities such as free fares and the pace of safety initiatives. The outcome will shape how Los Angeles allocates its nearly $10 billion transit budget and addresses the airport’s congestion challenges.