Zero Emissions Transit
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Zero Emissions Transit does
Zero Emissions Transit (ZET) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting organization formed in August 2022 by Climate Resolve and headquartered in Los Angeles. Its core mission is to advance a 100% zero-emission transportation future, with its flagship project being the Los Angeles Aerial Rapid Transit (LA ART) system: a proposed 1.2-mile zero-emission aerial gondola connecting Union Station, Chinatown, and Dodger Stadium in a 7-minute ride, with a 53-cabin system designed to carry up to 10,000 passengers per hour (5,000 per direction) and remove up to 3,000 cars from roads on game days. The technology stack is a cable-propelled aerial gondola with zero direct emissions, a geofenced privacy system that fogs cabin windows over sensitive residences, and a Community Access Program that integrates with LA Metro fare media. Technically distinctive components include a novel route architecture over a freeway crossing and integration with LA State Historic Park land.
ZET's business model is nonprofit-donation-based rather than commercial. Operating revenue comes from small-dollar donations processed through givebutter.com, while the gondola's capital costs are funded entirely by Aerial Rapid Transit Technologies (ARTT) — a partnership between McCourt Global and Guggenheim Partners — without using Metro money. The service is offered free to Dodger fans with game tickets, at LA Metro fare rates for nearby residents and employees through the Community Access Program, and is planned to generate future revenue from tourism and sponsorships tied to LA 2028 Olympics traffic. ZET operates a community-led, event-driven go-to-market motion relying on grassroots organizing, partner organization referrals (Breathe SoCal, LA Business Council, Chinatown BID), and public polling campaigns demonstrating 72-77% voter support. Key counterparties include LA Metro (lead agency and public sponsor), the LA Dodgers, McCourt Global, and Climate Resolve as parent organization.
Zero Emissions Transit firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Zero Emissions Transit
- Legal name
- Zero Emissions Transit
- Website
- https://zeroemissionstransit.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Zero Emissions Transit is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Zero Emissions Transit business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations: Zero Emissions Transit is a nonprofit organization that relies on donations from supporters to fund their zero emission transit initiatives. The donate page links to givebutter.com for processing donations.
- Free Service Model (Subsidized): The gondola will offer free fares to Dodger fans with game tickets, similar to the Dodger Stadium Express bus program. This benefit helps maximize air quality benefits. The free service is subsidized through partnerships and framework agreements.
- Tourism and Sponsorships: Future revenue expected from tourism and sponsorships for the gondola project, particularly leveraging increased visitors from the LA 2028 Olympics and international visitors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Community Access Program - Local residents and employees ride at LA Metro fare with no additional cost |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Dodger Game Service - Free rides with game tickets |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Zero Emissions Transit product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Zero Emissions Transit (ZET) is a nonprofit organization that develops and implements zero-emission transportation projects in the Los Angeles region. Its flagship initiative is the Los Angeles Aerial Rapid Transit (LA ART) — a proposed 1.2-mile zero-emission aerial gondola system connecting Union Station, Chinatown, and Dodger Stadium in 7 minutes with capacity for up to 10,000 passengers per hour. ZET also advocates for broader zero-emission mobility modes including walking, bicycling, electric shuttles, buses, aerial trams, gondolas, electric streetcars, electric rail, and electric/hydrogen vehicles.
Product overview
Zero Emissions Transit is a nonprofit organization focused on promoting 100% zero-emission transportation solutions. Its primary initiative is the LA ART Gondola Project, an aerial rapid transit system connecting Union Station, Chinatown, and Dodger Stadium. The organization also advocates for and supports various zero-emission transit modes including walking infrastructure, bicycling, electric shuttles, buses, aerial trams and gondolas, electric streetcars, electric rail, and electric/hydrogen vehicles.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- LA ART Gondola Project The LA ART Gondola Project is a proposed 1.2-mile zero-emission aerial gondola system connecting Los Angeles Union Station, Chinatown, and Dodger Stadium in 7 minutes end to end. The system can transport up to 10,000 passengers per hour (5,000 per direction) and remove up to 3,000 cars from roads on game days, providing the first permanent public transit connection to Dodger Stadium in nearly 60 years.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3,000 cars removed from roads per game day
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Zero Emissions Transit
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Zero Emissions Transit technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Zero Emissions Transit partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Climate ResolvecoreClimate Resolve, a leading environmental nonprofit, formed Zero Emissions Transit as a subsidiary nonprofit supporting organization focused on advancing emissions-free public transit solutions in the Los Angeles region. Climate Resolve organized California's Fourth Climate Change Assessment and developed on-the-ground climate resilience projects. Zero Emissions Transit with LA ART as its inaugural project continues Climate Resolve's ongoing efforts.
- Aerial Rapid Transit Technologies (ARTT)coreARTT (a partnership between McCourt Global and Guggenheim Partners, owner of the Dodgers) donated the LA ART gondola project to Zero Emissions Transit. ARTT developed the concept, conducted feasibility and engineering studies, and proposed the project to Metro's Office of Extraordinary Innovation. ARTT committed to paying for everything without using Metro money.
- Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)coreMetro accepted LA ART's proposal to the Office of Extraordinary Innovation in 2018 and agreed to act as the lead agency for the EIR under CEQA. Metro issued the Notice of Preparation for the EIR in October 2020 and officially approved LA ART and certified its EIR in February 2024. Metro is the public sponsor of the project.
- McCourt GlobalcoreMcCourt Global, 50% owner of land surrounding Dodger Stadium, asked David Grannis to conduct feasibility and engineering studies of different transit options in 2014. Partnered with Guggenheim Partners in 2018 to form ARTT for the LA ART project.
- Guggenheim PartnerscoreGuggenheim Partners (owner of the Dodgers) formed partnership with McCourt Global in 2018 to create ARTT to formally propose LA ART to LA Metro. Donated the project to Zero Emissions Transit in 2022.
- Breathe SoCalminorBreathe SoCal is an environmental advocacy organization that supports LA ART, noting it presents an innovative first-last mile transit solution that can help the region meet its climate reduction goals, reduce air pollution, and improve lung health of Southern Californians.
- Los Angeles Business CouncilminorOne of many organizational supporters of the LA ART project, representing LA business interests in support of sustainable urban transit solutions.
- Chinatown Business Council / Chinatown BIDminorBusiness organization in Chinatown supporting the LA ART project, noting the economic benefits of encouraging Dodger fans to visit Chinatown before taking the gondola to baseball games.
- Los Angeles DodgerscoreDodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten commends Zero Emissions Transit for its commitment to environmental sustainability, supporting any project that benefits fans and the community. The gondola will help reduce traffic around Dodger Stadium, cut emissions, and enhance fan experience. Free service announced for fans with game tickets.
- California Transportation CommissionminorHilary Norton, Chair Emeritus of the California Transportation Commission, supports LA ART as a way to expand sustainable transit connectivity for Dodger games and every day use for wheelchairs, strollers, and general accessibility.
- CaltransminorCalifornia Department of Transportation is involved in right-of-way approvals because LA ART crosses over the Harbor (110) Freeway near Dodger Stadium.
- California State ParksminorCalifornia State Parks is involved in right-of-way approvals because LA ART's Chinatown/State Park station sits partially on Los Angeles State Historic Park land.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Zero Emissions Transit competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Aerial Rapid Transit Technologies (ARTT): ARTT (a McCourt Global / Guggenheim Partners partnership) originated the LA ART gondola concept, conducted feasibility and engineering studies, and donated the project to Zero Emissions Transit. As the prior developer and ongoing strategic partner, ARTT is the most directly comparable entity in terms of project scope and stakeholder relationships.
Others
- Doppelmayr Group: World-leading manufacturer of ropeways, aerial tramways, and urban gondola systems, including many of the urban transit installations referenced above (e.g., La Paz, Mexico City). As a likely equipment and engineering partner for LA ART, Doppelmayr is a key ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.
- Leitner-Poma of America: North American manufacturer of aerial tramways and surface lifts, including urban and resort gondola installations. As a potential equipment vendor and engineering counterparty to projects like LA ART, Leitner-Poma is an adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct peer.
Broad incumbents
- Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC): Operates the Roosevelt Island Tramway in New York City, one of the few urban aerial tram systems in the United States. RIOC provides a comparable governance model — a public-benefit corporation stewarding an urban aerial tram connecting a transit hub to a destination district — making it directly relevant as a US aerial-transit peer.
- Cablebús (Mexico City): Government-operated urban gondola transit system in Mexico City serving low-income hillside neighborhoods with high-capacity cabins. Cablebús provides a directly comparable use case for aerial transit delivering social-equity benefits and transit connectivity in dense, topographically challenging urban corridors.
- Portland Bureau of Transportation — Portland Aerial Tram: Operates the Portland Aerial Tram, which connects Portland's South Waterfront district to Oregon Health & Science University. Like LA ART, it serves a defined destination corridor using aerial tram technology integrated with the broader transit network, and offers a useful benchmark for urban aerial transit operations, fare policy, and community relations.
- Mi Teleférico (La Paz, Bolivia): Operates the world's largest urban aerial cable-car network connecting La Paz and El Alto across challenging topography. Mi Teleférico is the clearest reference point for high-capacity, urban aerial gondola transit serving daily commuters, and its operating model provides insight into scale economics that LA ART aspires to.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Zero Emissions Transit social profiles
Digital presenceZero Emissions Transit financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Zero Emissions Transit leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Zero Emissions Transit funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Zero Emissions Transit M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Zero Emissions Transit
What does Zero Emissions Transit do?
Zero Emissions Transit (ZET) is a nonprofit organization that develops and implements zero-emission transportation projects in the Los Angeles region. Its flagship initiative is the Los Angeles Aerial Rapid Transit (LA ART) — a proposed 1.2-mile zero-emission aerial gondola system connecting Union Station, Chinatown, and Dodger Stadium in 7 minutes with capacity for up to 10,000 passengers per hour. ZET also advocates for broader zero-emission mobility modes including walking, bicycling, electric shuttles, buses, aerial trams, gondolas, electric streetcars, electric rail, and electric/hydrogen vehicles.
Is Zero Emissions Transit a public or private company?
Zero Emissions Transit is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Zero Emissions Transit founded?
Zero Emissions Transit was founded in 2022. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Zero Emissions Transit based?
Zero Emissions Transit is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Zero Emissions Transit make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are free Service Model (Subsidized) and tourism and Sponsorships.
Who are Zero Emissions Transit's main competitors?
Aerial Rapid Transit Technologies (ARTT) is listed as a direct peer. Others are Doppelmayr Group and Leitner-Poma of America. Broad incumbents are Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), Cablebús (Mexico City), Portland Bureau of Transportation — Portland Aerial Tram and Mi Teleférico (La Paz, Bolivia).
Does Zero Emissions Transit have an API?
No public API is recorded for Zero Emissions Transit.