A recent feature in Urbanland tackled how Los Angeles was remaking itself as a transit-oriented region. 

The city and county have been spending money for years to help modernize a large and disjointed area that continues to boom with construction and population growth. Urbanland projects that LA will add another 2.4 million people — to what’s already the country’s most populous county — over the course of the next 40 years. 

Anticipating this, both entities have introduced a number of measures aimed at reducing traffic, connecting the county, and building with an eye on efficiency, density, and commuters.

Last year’s Measure M, which will kick the city’s public transportation plans into high gear, is just part of it. New mixed-use projects are popping up each day, as are concentrated developments near rail systems and bus lines. Downtown LA’s building spree is moving up, not out, to accommodate growth.

If Link US happens as planned, the county’s rail system would finally be connected. And a potential switch to electric trains would increase the ability for more local stops.

While that shows the city and county trying to move forward, residents haven’t necessarily played along yet. Metro ridership dropped by 7.5 million from July 2013 to July 2017. Increased housing costs are pushing residents further out too, making driving a more appealing proposition than an hour on public transportation.

There’s still time for the goals of residents and the government to meet. But if LA Mayor Eric Garcetti has any chance of shifting the “car capital of the world” to one of the world’s best transit systems, it may take more than just creating the system. It’s not impossible. All of the rail connections and improvements may just need to come before anyone really starts using it.