As Hundreds of fans descend upon Southern California for the World Cup, LA metro has launched an ambitious suite of accessibility upgrades, designed to take the stress out of navigating the world’s most anticipated sports events. These initiatives focus on neurodiversity, visual impairment while keeping the extreme summer heat in mind.
Redefining Wayfinding: The Waymap expansion
To help blind and low vision travellers, Metro is rapidly scaling up its partnership with Waymap, an advanced smartphone navigation platform /app.
Unlike traditional navigating apps, Waymap is a high-accuracy, turn-by-turn platform that operates entirely without cellular data or GPS signals. Instead, it uses a smartphone’s internal motion sensors to track steps and direction with incredible precision. The app provides highly accurate, step-by-step audio guidance seamlessly across outdoor, indoor, and underground spaces.
- The Rollout: Originally piloted at six rail stations, but the LA metro is scaling the technology to 6 more major stations by July 2026 just in time for the World Cup.
- Its Working: Waymap navigates licensed venues seamlessly, providing highly descriptive, audial instructions to guide riders safely to platforms, station exits, ticket kiosks, and elevators, even though packed corridors where standard signage is hidden by dense crowds.
Introduction of Sensory rooms
The LA metro will provide temporary sensory rooms for neurodiverse passengers. The intense crowd, chattering fans and flashing lights of a global tournament can quickly lead to sensory overload. To combat this, Metro has partnered with the national non-profit KultureCity to install dedicated, quiet sensory rooms at three major transit hubs: Union Station, 7th Street/Metro Centre Station, LAX Metro Transit Centre Station
The sensory rooms will feature seating, reduced lighting, noise-reducing headphones and other sensory tools.
Beating the Heat
With the World Cup taking place at the peak of Californian summer, metro is also operating hydration stations throughout their transit system and park-and-ride facilities. The stations are equipped with drinking water, shade, misting fans, sunscreen and cooling towels.
According to Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins, these additions are about more than just managing a temporary influx of tourists.
“Transit systems are built for people, and they should provide the resources everyone needs to travel safely, comfortably and confidently”
“From navigation tools and calming spaces to hydration stations and other customer amenities, we’re making Metro more accessible, inclusive and welcoming as part of our efforts to serve both Angelenos and visitors during the World Cup.”