US announces $100M for World Cup host city transit

Transit and Transportation Plans Ramp Up Across World Cup Host Cities

The U.S. Department of Transportation on Tuesday announced $100.3 million in federal funding to bolster public transit systems in the 11 American cities hosting FIFA World Cup matches this summer, as transportation agencies from Boston to Seattle finalize sweeping plans to move millions of fans to and from stadiums during the tournament that kicks off June 11.espn

“DOT is doing its part to ensure the United States is ready to host the most spectacular World Cup in history,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “We’re proud to partner with host cities to provide fans with a seamless travel experience that will be part of the memories they cherish from attending these historic games.”metro-magazine

Federal Dollars Flow to Host Cities

The funding, approved by Congress in a recent spending bill, will be distributed based on stadium capacity and the number of matches each city hosts. New York and New Jersey, which will host the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium, are set to receive the largest share at just over $10 million, followed by Dallas and Arlington, which will host nine matches — the most of any city. Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area will receive a combined $18.4 million, with roughly $9.6 million going to the Los Angeles region for eight matches at SoFi Stadium and $8.8 million to the Bay Area for six matches at Levi’s Stadium, according to U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff.senate

The State Department estimates that around 10 million international visitors are expected across the host cities during the tournament.espn

Massachusetts Overhauls Foxborough Access

Perhaps nowhere is the transportation challenge more acute than in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where Gillette Stadium — a venue designed around car access — will host seven World Cup matches. On-site parking will be slashed by 75 percent, from the usual 20,000 spaces down to just 5,000, due to expanded security perimeters and hospitality setups.cbsnews

To compensate, the MBTA has committed to moving 20,000 passengers per match via commuter rail, running up to 14 nonstop trains between South Station and Foxboro Station — a dramatic leap from the single train the agency typically operates for New England Patriots games. The agency is building two new temporary high-level platforms at Foxboro Station to board full-length trains more efficiently. Massachusetts will receive $8.7 million of the federal transit funding to support those operations.streetsblog

“I’m just stressed out thinking about it,” MBTA Board member Peter Koutoujian said at a recent meeting, reflecting the scale of the undertaking. The MBTA plans a test run of its operations during a Brazil-France friendly match at the stadium on March 26.cbsnews

Seattle and Beyond Gear Up

In Seattle, Sound Transit announced a comprehensive “Summer of Soccer” service plan for six matches at the renamed Seattle Stadium. Link light rail on the 1 Line and 2 Line will run every eight minutes on match days until 1 a.m., producing a train every four minutes through the downtown core. Special Sounder commuter trains will also run from Everett and Lakewood, with return service departing roughly an hour after each match. The agency will benefit from the 2 Line’s expansion across Lake Washington on March 28, connecting Redmond and Bellevue to downtown Seattle for the first time.fox13seattle

Kansas City, meanwhile, has unveiled ConnectKC26, a plan introducing new direct motorcoach services alongside the KC Streetcar, rideshare, and existing bus routes to shuttle fans between hotels, stadiums, and fan zones.kansascityfwc26

With roughly 100 days until the opening match, the federal investment and local planning efforts reflect the immense logistical challenge of hosting the largest FIFA World Cup in history across a country where many stadiums were built for a car-centric era.