Mayor Karen Bass assumed the role of chair of Metro on Monday, announcing that she and the board of the transit agency will prioritize strengthening public safety, addressing homelessness, and increasing ridership in the coming year. During the “State of the Agency” address at Union Station, Bass emphasized the importance of Metro as an essential service for hundreds of thousands of Southern Californians who rely on it for work, school, and medical appointments. However, she stressed the need for Metro to become a system of choice rather than a last resort for transportation in order for Los Angeles to thrive and survive in the future.
Bass acknowledged the progress in ridership, which has increased by 16% to around 900,000 daily boardings, signaling recovery from the pandemic. However, she also recognized that overall ridership is still lower, especially among women who express concerns about safety. Addressing these safety issues, Bass announced plans to deploy additional officers on the B (Red) and D (Purple) lines, which have experienced the highest number of assaults.
Metro’s approved budget for fiscal 2024 includes $290.5 million for public safety, in line with the agency’s Reimagining Public Safety Framework. While Metro extended its law enforcement contracts, they are also developing a plan to establish an in-house public safety department to integrate crime response, prevention, and necessary outreach services. Bass expressed enthusiasm for this approach as it allows for a holistic strategy with a focus on urgency and crime prevention.
Bass also highlighted the need to address homelessness on Metro’s system, as nearly 50 people have died while unhoused this year. Metro will expand its homeless outreach teams to work with community-based organizations in developing homeless navigation hubs and providing outreach services to transition individuals into stable housing.
To increase Metro’s housing production, Bass discussed plans to utilize surplus and underutilized land for joint development projects. Metro aims to reach 10,000 units of housing, with half of them being income-restricted, by 2031. This initiative will contribute to addressing the housing crisis in Los Angeles.
In his remarks, outgoing board Chair Ara Najarian highlighted the achievements of the past fiscal year, including the opening of the Regional Connector and the K Line. The Regional Connector enables seamless travel from Azusa to Long Beach and from East L.A. to Santa Monica without transfers.
Najarian also mentioned ongoing projects such as the C (Green) line, the LAX Metro Transit Center, and the east San Fernando Valley Light Rail project. Metro plans to increase service frequency, reliability, and cleanliness, with trains running every 10 minutes on the B and D lines by September. Additionally, Metro has allocated resources for cleaning efforts and hired additional staff to maintain cleanliness on the B and D lines.
Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins expressed gratitude to Bass, Najarian, and the Metro team for their partnership and highlighted the positive impact of a revitalized transit system on reducing congestion, traffic fatalities, and fighting climate change. Wiggins emphasized the forthcoming challenges and opportunities of the 2028 Olympics, aiming to create a “car-free” games and continuously expand Metro’s transit network.
Wiggins concluded by reiterating Metro’s commitment to revolutionize transportation in Los Angeles and prioritize the needs and expectations of customers to deliver a world-class service.
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