ACS Infrastructure has reached an agreement has been reached to restore, operate, and maintain Angels Flight, the iconic Downtown L.A. railway.

ACS, together with its contractor, Dragados USA, and its project partner Sener Engineering, will work with the Angels Flight Railway Foundation, the City of Los Angeles, and LA Metro, on this public-private partnership for 30 years.

The 116-year-old funicular takes passengers on a scenic ride between Hill and Olive Streets on Bunker Hill. Angels Flight — the world’s shortest railway — has given more than 100 million rides along its hillside track. It closed temporarily in 2013, but earlier this year, the California Public Utilities Commission certified a plan to upgrade Angels Flight to meet the highest safety standards.

Aside from a cameo in the Oscar-winning movie “La La Land, the iconic funicular will serve as an important transit connection between the Pershing Square Metro station and the top of Bunker Hill — an area that includes Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Broad Contemporary Art Museum, MOCA, the Los Angeles Music Center, among other cultural institutions. 

Mayor Garcetti said:

“Angels Flight is a cultural gem that tells an unforgettable story about the history of Los Angeles. Today, we celebrate the rebirth of this iconic attraction — and once the modernization is complete, we will welcome millions of visitors from around the world to experience it with us. ”  

Nuria Haltiwanger, CEO for ACS Infrastructure Development, Inc., said:

 This project is not just about connecting people from the top and bottom of Bunker Hill.  It is about connecting Angelenos to the history of their vibrant City.  We look forward to the reopening of Angels Flight and to working together with the Foundation and City in the preservation and continuation of the Angels Flight legacy."

Geoffrey Yarema, a Partner at Nossaman LLP, sad

“Sometimes big things come in small packages. For the shortest railroad in the world, this is the first P3 transaction for Los Angeles. We are proud to have helped the Foundation find a private partner to  restore the classic glamour of this international icon and transform it into an essential element of 21st Century downtown mobility.  We believe the foundational elements of this deal structure can serve as a model for other facilities in Southern California and indeed around the globe.”