Another LAX people mover delay, Brightline faces financial troubles, and more

Just six months after breaking ground, six families in Altadena’s La Viña community are moving back into their homes - a key milestone in the neighborhood that was severely impacted by the Eaton Fire in January 2025.

Developed by Brookfield Residential between 1997 and 2003, the 272-home La Viña neighborhood saw 52 of its properties destroyed in the fire. To streamline the recovery, the six homeowners worked with Brookfield Residential to bypass the independent rebuild process and selected from a collection of designs matched to their specific homesites, allowing for faster planning, permitting, and construction.

Here's what we're reading this week:

“Pencils down”: LA multifamily developers slow construction as high costs, ULA loom over deals "2026 saw nearly 15% drop in development pipeline from same period last year" (TRD LA)

L.A. struggling to get Olympics transit money from Sacramento "Sacramento has rejected most transportation funding requests for the 2028 Summer Olympics, leaving L.A. Metro struggling as much with the Democrat-controlled Legislature as with the Republican Trump administration." (LA Times)

More delays: LAX train contractor buys more time for testing "The 2.25-mile-long elevated train designed to transport riders between airport terminals and local transit was initially scheduled to open in 2023. The project is so far $880 million over budget." (LAist)

Sept. 29: City to Celebrate Ribbon Cutting for Vista Canyon Bridge "Spanning approximately 780 feet across the Santa Clara River, the new two-lane bridge connects Soledad Canyon Road and Mitchell Drive. The project improves circulation and provides greater access for motorists, pedestrians, cyclists and emergency responders. An important component of the Santa Clarita 2025 Strategic Plan, the project includes the extension of Vista Canyon Boulevard and a new roundabout, providing direct access to the Vista Canyon Multimodal Transit Center and surrounding neighborhoods." (SCV News)

L.A. Plans to Add Bus Lane/Stop Enforcement Cameras on DASH Buses "A 60-day DASH bus camera pilot found 3,400 potential violations, averaging about four violations per hour. Camera installation expected to start this November. (Streetsblog LA)

Brightline Florida files for bankruptcy, SoCal-Las Vegas high-speed rail project faces delays "Last month, however, the project’s president stepped down as the company struggles to raise enough money to complete the project. A spokesperson told KTLA that Brightline West’s plans remain unchanged by Brightline Florida’s restructuring." (KTLA)

Why L.A. developers aren’t building more apartments, despite epic housing shortage "Developers say building new apartments no longer pencils out as higher interest rates, expensive fees and L.A.’s 'mansion tax' erase profits." (LA Times)

Preparing for a total LA28 takeover The Hollywood sign lit up (Torched)

From Watts to L.A. wildfires: The rise of California’s troubled FAIR Plan "New research shows capped rates and political pressure skew costs, leaving low-risk communities like Coalinga subsidizing high-value, fire-prone enclaves from Pacific Palisades to luxury tracts outside Roseville." (LA Times)

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