No, not the old Red Car...
...but an updated version. C'mon. L.A. had the fastest most advanced mass transit system in the world in the 1930s, 40s and 50s from L.A. to Long Beach. IIRC, the Red Car even traveled to San Diego. At any rate, it was the transportation model to have in everyone's city. And it supposedly worked very, very well.
So, why can't it be done again? Put rail lines down the middle of the street, about five feet or so of concrete shoulder on either side of the rails, plug in some electricity and get some cool, comfortable passenger cars - red of course to run on the track.
Sure, complete what needs to be completed re. the subway. But from that point on, make the Red Car a transportation priority.