Posts Tagged :

transit

Hahn Issues Statement on Selection of Chief Bill Scott to Head New Metro Transit Community Public Safety Department 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Issues Statement on Selection of Chief Bill Scott to Head New Metro Transit Community Public Safety Department

 

Los Angeles, CA – Today, Chair of the Metro Board of Directors and Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn released the following statement in support of the selection of San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott to lead the forthcoming Metro Transit Community Public Safety Department:

“Chief Bill Scott’s track record speaks for itself. He leaves San Francisco with crime at its lowest level in decades, and he understands that public safety is about more than enforcement—it’s about service. He has long spoken about officers as guardians, not warriors. That philosophy is exactly what we need on our system—officers who ride with our passengers, who protect them, and who are there to help when people need it most.

As Chair of Metro, my priority is the safety of our riders and our Metro employees. The goal of this new department is to have a seamless approach to public safety, with highly trained sworn officers dedicated to Metro and visible on our buses and trains, mental health professionals responding to anyone in crisis, and compassionate homeless outreach teams who can get people who find themselves on the system the help they need. This is an ambitious undertaking and success starts with leadership.”

Chief Bill Scott’s roots as a police officer are in Los Angeles. He joined the LAPD in 1989 and spent much of his career working in South LA, rising to the rank of Deputy Chief overseeing the LAPD South Bureau.
During Hahn’s Chairship, Metro has added barriers to every bus in the fleet to better protect bus operators, is piloting weapons detection technology to keep guns and knives off the system, added lighting to stations, raised fare gates, and expanded the Tap to Exit initiative.

Hahn Announces Phase 2 of Metro Weapons Detection Pilot Program 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Announces Phase 2 of Metro Weapons Detection Pilot Program

Hahn speaks to media at press conference April 28 at the Norwalk Metro Station.

Norwalk, CA – This morning, Chair of the Metro Board of Directors and Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn announced the beginning of Phase 2 of Metro’s Weapons Detection Pilot Program, which began today at Metro’s Norwalk Station on the C (Green) Line and San Pedro Street Station on the A (Blue) Line. Hahn was joined by Metro Board Vice Chair Fernando Dutra, Metro Deputy CEO Sharon Gookin and Metro Deputy Chief of System Security and Law Enforcement Robert Gummer for the announcement at the Norwalk Station, which serves as the eastern terminus of the C Line and a major commuter hub for the Gateway Cities region.

“You can’t take a gun or knife into a Dodger Game, a concert, or a government building, and you shouldn’t be able to bring them on Metro,” said Hahn who first urged the pilot and has championed weapons detection. “Let me be clear: weapons do not belong on Metro. There is no room for compromise on that. My goal is simple but firm: a Metro system where all of our riders feel safe, respected, and confident that they will get to their destination without fear.”

The weapons detection pilot program, using pillar-style scanners, will be conducted by Metro Security Officers at various stations, two stations at a time, for two-month increments, for the next 12 months. Riders will walk between sensors which detect concealed weapons without requiring them to stop and remove any belongings. If flagged by the sensors, riders will be subject to further screenings including a search of their belongings and follow-up questions.

“The Metro Board is committed to helping Metro explore every opportunity to make the system safer for employees and customers,” said Whittier City Council Member and Metro Board First Vice Chair Fernando Dutra. “Testing innovative solutions, such as weapons detection systems, seems like a logical next step in expanding Metro’s safety resources.”

From August through December 2024, Metro conducted the first phase of the weapons detection technology pilot program at Union Station and APU/Citrus College Station in Azusa. In addition to the rider screening process, Metro also tested video analytics systems at Union Station which scan CCTV video feeds in real time to identify threats, including someone brandishing a weapon, and sends alerts to law enforcement. In February, Hahn along with fellow board members Kathryn Barger, Hilda L. Solis, Karen Bass, Fernando Dutra, and James Butts led the Board in expanding the pilot program for this next phase.

“Nothing is more important to Metro than the safety of our employees and customers,” said Stephanie Wiggins, Metro CEO. “The weapons detection pilot is an additional tool to help improve safety on Metro, which includes increasing our uniformed presence on the system, insuring people are only using Metro for transit and working more closely with our city and county partners to address the societal issues of people experiencing homelessness, drug addiction and untreated mental illnesses.”

A report by Metro shows that the passenger screening system technology proved to be effective. While no weapons threats were identified on passengers, the systems detected officers’ service weapons with 100% accuracy. At Hahn’s request, the Board’s February motion also called for Metro to explore bringing the weapons detection technology pilot to the system’s buses. Metro has identified a vendor to conduct the 12-month pilot program on buses and is working to schedule its launch.

Metro Chair Hahn Announces June 6 Opening of LAX Metro Station 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Metro Chair Hahn Announces June 6 Opening of LAX Metro Station

Los Angeles, CA – Today, Metro Board Chair and Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn announced that the new LAX/Metro Transit Center Station will open June 6, 2025.

“The wait is nearly over, Los Angeles,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “At long last, we are getting a train to LAX. And when the LAX People Mover finally opens, we will truly have an international airport that connects people from inside the terminals to the world beyond through Metro. Congratulations to everyone who worked so hard on making this happen, and see you at the opening on June 6.”

Hahn made the announcement to applause at the monthly meeting of the Metro Board of Directors.

The LAX/Metro Transit Center Station is a new multi-modal transportation hub located at Aviation Boulevard and 96th Street in Los Angeles. The station will offer access to both the Metro K and C Lines as well as a 16-bay bus plaza. It will be a direct connection to the LAX Automated People Mover which will provide seamless access between airport terminals when it opens later this year.

Hahn Celebrates Long Beach Hosting 11 Olympic Sports 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Celebrates Long Beach Hosting 11 Olympic Sports

Proposes Water Taxi between San Pedro to Long Beach

AquaLink water taxi operated by Long Beach Transit

Los Angeles, CA – Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn is applauding news that Long Beach will host 11 sports in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games – making Long Beach the host of the second highest number of sports of any city in the county after Los Angeles. In light of this news, Hahn is proposing that Metro operate a water taxi from San Pedro to Long Beach during the games.

“Congratulations to Mayor Rex Richardson and the entire Long Beach team on securing 11 Olympic sports that will showcase so much of what makes Long Beach so special,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “Long Beach will be the place to be in 2028 and I want us to get creative about how people will get there. I am proposing that Metro operate a water taxi between San Pedro and Long Beach as a fun and innovative way to get people around during the games.”

Long Beach will host everything from beach volleyball at Alamitos Beach, to coastal rowing at the Waterfront, to sport climbing and water polo at the Long Beach Convention Center.
Supervisor Hahn is the current chair of the Metro Board of Directors and chair of Metro’s Ad-Hoc Committee on the Olympic and Paralympic Games. At the next ad-hoc committee meeting, Hahn will introduce a motion to have Metro explore the feasibility of the agency operating a water taxi during the 2028 Summer Games that would ferry attendees and tourists between San Pedro and Long Beach within the breakwater.

“If we really want the 2028 games to be ‘transit-first,’ we have to make transit fun for people and we can’t just rely on buses and trains,” said Hahn. “A water taxi would be a great time for visitors and residents alike and would keep traffic off our bridges.”

Long Beach Transit already operates two water taxi services: the AquaBus, which operates within Rainbow Harbor, and the AquaLink, which connects Alamitos Bay to Rainbow Harbor.

Hahn Requests Know Your Rights Info for Immigrants be Displayed Throughout Metro System 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Requests Know Your Rights Info for Immigrants be Displayed Throughout Metro System

Los Angeles, CA – Yesterday, Chair of the Metro Board of Directors and LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn sent a letter to Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins requesting that Metro work with LA County’s Office of Immigrant Affairs to make “Know Your Rights” information and resources available to riders who are immigrants throughout the Metro system. Amid intensified immigration enforcement actions nationwide, Hahn wants Metro to help inform riders about the rights they have during interactions with ICE or law enforcement agents, including the right not to open their doors and the right to consult a lawyer before signing documents.

“Immigrants make vast contributions to our communities and to LA County’s economy. And many of them rely on Metro to do that. During this time of unprecedented fear and uncertainty for many immigrants, we can’t waste any time or leave any opportunity on the table when it comes to informing our riders who are immigrants about their rights,” said Hahn.

Hahn’s letter requests that Metro place easy-to-read information on immigrants’ rights in multiple languages on displays in Metro buses, trains, and station. It also calls on Metro to explore allowing that information to be distributed on Metro property or made available directly to riders.

Full letter available here.

Metro Board Renames Long Beach Blvd. Station “Lynwood Station” 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Metro Board Renames Long Beach Blvd. Station “Lynwood Station”

Chair Hahn led move at Metro after renaming effort championed by Lynwood leaders

Chair Janice Hahn at today’s Metro Board meeting

Los Angeles, CA – Today, the Metro Board of Directors unanimously approved a motion authored by Chair Janice Hahn along with Directors Hilda L. Solis, Fernando Dutra, and Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker to officially rename the Long Beach Blvd. Station on the C (Green) Line to “Lynwood Station.” The “Long Beach Blvd.” name has led to confusion among riders, some of whom assume the station is located in the City of Long Beach. Metro will soon work to update station signs, platform displays, and digital information systems to reflect the new name.

“Lynwood is finally claiming its place on our Metro map. This station has served and brought visitors to Lynwood for three decades. It’s finally time to recognize the community that it’s such a critical part of,” said Hahn, who represents Lynwood on the LA County Board of Supervisors.

The push to rename the station has been championed by Lynwood Councilmember Juan Muñoz-Guevara, who serves as chair of Metro’s Gateway Cities Service Council. The renaming comes as Metro is working to create new signage, maps, and timetables to accommodate the opening of the LAX/Metro Transit Center Station expected to open this year.

“The station cuts right through the center of our community. Many of our residents rely on this station to get to their jobs at LAX, Inglewood, and other job centers,” said Muñoz-Guevara. “Part of creating more ridership, is creating an identity for our station. The current station name no longer accurately represents Lynwood.”

Full-size photo available here.

Board Approves Free Metro Rides for Residents Displaced by Wildfires 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Board Approves Free Metro Rides for Residents Displaced by Wildfires

Los Angeles, CA – Today, the Los Metro Board of Directors unanimously approved a motion authored by Chair Janice Hahn and coauthored by Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, Mayor Karen Bass, Supervisor Hilda Solis, and Whittier Councilmember Fernando Dutra aimed at using Metro resources to support displaced wildfire victims as well as recovery efforts. Among other initiatives, residents displaced by wildfires can now qualify for Metro’s reduced fare program known as LIFE.

“This is an all hands on deck moment for Los Angeles County and we are putting Metro resources to work as we respond to these wildfires, support survivors, and plan for recovery,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “As residents who lost their homes try to rebuild their lives over the next few months, the last thing they should have to worry about is whether they can afford to take the train or bus. Every displaced resident now qualifies for free fares and we will have Metro staff at wildfire resource centers to help people register.”

The proposal authorizes Metro’s CEO Stephanie Wiggins to modify the eligibility of the LIFE reduced fare program for at least six months to include individuals displaced by wildfires as well as mobilize outreach teams to evacuation centers and resource centers to assist wildfire survivors in registering for these programs. Residents enrolled in LIFE can enjoy unlimited rides for 90 days, followed by 20 free rides every month on Metro or a discounted pass on another participating transit agency.

Residents can register at https://www.metro.net/fireresponse/.

“As we work to bring every resource to our residents impacted by the wildfires—including Metro employees—it’s important that our Metro Board is also at the table,” said Metro Board Member and LA County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger. “Thousands of residents are now without a reliable means of transportation and our Metro system may play a crucial role as an option for residents to get to work and to our Disaster Recovery Centers to access support. It’s our duty to uplift our residents and employees when they need it most.”

“The devastation caused by the Eaton and Palisades fires has left lives lost, homes destroyed, and thousands displaced,” said Third District Supervisor and Metro Board Member Lindsey P. Horvath. “This motion ensures we are leveraging every resource available to provide impacted residents and Metro employees access to reduced fare programs, disaster assistance, and direct outreach and support. These recovery efforts are vital to helping our communities rebuild with the urgency and care they deserve.”

The motion also authorizes the CEO to identify and provide financial or other forms of assistance that are eligible for cost recovery from disaster assistance programs to Metro employees who have lost their homes in the wildfires or have been displaced as a result of the wildfires. As of today, at least 19 Metro employees have reported losing their homes in the wildfires and at least 46 have been displaced.

Lastly, the motion authorizes Metro to work with impacted jurisdictions to identify ways that Metro may aid in recovery efforts– including, but not limited to its fleet, services, expertise, and properties.

Hahn Celebrates Federal Support for Southeast Gateway Line 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Celebrates Federal Support for Southeast Gateway Line

“Letter of No Prejudice” could mean $985 million toward new rail line

Los Angeles, CA – Chair of the Metro Board and Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn is celebrating news that last week the Federal Transit Authority approved a Letter of No Prejudice for the Southeast Gateway Line. This means that Los Angeles Metro could be eligible for up to $985 million in federal reimbursement for funds spent on construction of early critical activities.

“This is a huge vote of confidence in the Southeast Gateway Line and could mean nearly $1 Billion toward its construction,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “I could not be more grateful for the support we received for this project from the Biden Administration and our Congressional champions like Congressman Robert Garcia and Senator Alex Padilla. The Southeast Gateway Line is going to be transformative for the communities up and down this line, from Artesia to Union Station – many of whom don’t own cars and rely on transit.”

The Letter of No Prejudice was approved in a letter to Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins from FTA Regional Administrator Ray Tellis dated January 17, 2025. Early critical construction activities eligible for possible federal reimbursement with this approval includes hazardous materials abatement, railroad relocation, and grade crossings for the Southeast Gateway Line project among other early construction work.

In October 2024, Hahn, Metro officials, and local, state, and federal supporters broke ground on utility relocation for the Southeast Gateway Line. The Southeast Gateway Line will connect southeast LA County to Downtown Los Angeles from Artesia through Cerritos, Bellflower, Paramount, Downey, South Gate, Cudahy, Bell, Huntington Park, and Vernon to Union Station. Nearly half the residents in the neighborhoods that will be served by this line live below the poverty level, including one-in-five residents who are transit dependent and don’t have access to their own car. The Southeast Gateway Line was included in both voter-approved sales tax measures Measure R and Measure M with nearly $2 billion in local sales tax going toward its construction.

Hahn Leads Metro Board Move to Rename Long Beach Blvd. Station “Lynwood Station” 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Leads Metro Board Move to Rename Long Beach Blvd. Station “Lynwood Station”

Executive Management Committee approves renaming; full Board of Directors will vote next week

The Long Beach Blvd. Station serves the City of Lynwood.

Los Angeles, CA – Today, the Executive Management Committee of the Metro Board of Directors voted to move forward with a proposed renaming of the Long Beach Blvd. Station on the C (Green) Line to “Lynwood Station,” a motion authored by Chair of the Board Janice Hahn along with Directors Hilda L. Solis, Fernando Dutra, and Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker. The motion now moves on to a vote by the full Metro Board of Directors during its meeting next Thursday, January 23.

“This change is long overdue. Our Metro stations are critical infrastructure for the communities they serve, and actually help shape the neighborhoods around them,” said Hahn, who represents Lynwood on the LA County Board of Supervisors. “As we prepare to welcome the world for the World Cup and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, we want to put Lynwood on the map.”

The push to rename the station has been championed by Lynwood Councilmember Juan Muñoz-Guevara, who serves as chair of Metro’s Gateway Cities Service Council. The move comes as Metro is working to create new signage, maps, and timetables to accommodate the opening of the LAX/Metro Transit Center Station expected to open this year.

“The station cuts right through the center of our community. Many of our residents rely on this station to get to their jobs at LAX, Inglewood, and other job centers,” said Muñoz-Guevara in his public comment during today’s committee meeting. “Part of creating more ridership, is creating an identity for our station. The current station name no longer accurately represents Lynwood.”

The “Long Beach Blvd.” name has led to confusion among riders, some of whom assume the station is located in the City of Long Beach. If the motion is approved by the Board next week, Metro personnel will update station signs, platform displays, and digital information systems to reflect the new name.

Hahn, Horvath, and Barger put forward Metro motion to support fire survivors and recovery 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn, Horvath, and Barger put forward Metro motion to support fire survivors and recovery

Los Angeles, CA – Today, Metro Board Chair Janice Hahn in partnership with Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger and Supervisor Lindsey Horvath introduced a proposal aimed at using Metro resources to support displaced wildfire victims as well as recovery efforts. If approved next week, residents displaced by the wildfires would qualify for Metro’s reduced fare program.

“Metro has resources we should put to work as we respond to these wildfires, get help to victims, and plan for recovery,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “That will mean not only supporting our employees who have been displaced, but also expanding the LIFE program so fire victims can ride Metro for free. When recovery efforts get underway, Metro has resources that can help – whether that is our fleet, our personnel’s expertise, or Metro’s dozens of properties and vacant lots.”

The proposal put forward today by Hahn, Horvath, and Barger authorizes Metro’s CEO Stephanie Wiggins to modify the eligibility of the LIFE reduced fare program for at least six months to include individuals displaced by wildfires as well as mobilize outreach teams to evacuation centers and resource centers to assist wildfire survivors in registering for these programs. Learn more about the Metro LIFE program here.

“As we work to bring every resource to our residents impacted by the wildfires—including Metro employees—it’s important that our Metro Board is also at the table,” said Metro Board Member and LA County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger. “Thousands of residents are now without a reliable means of transportation and our Metro system may play a crucial role as an option for residents to get to work and to our Disaster Recovery Centers to access support. It’s our duty to uplift our residents and employees when they need it most.”

“The devastation caused by the Eaton and Palisades fires has left lives lost, homes destroyed, and thousands displaced,” said Third District Supervisor and Metro Board Member Lindsey P. Horvath. “This motion ensures we are leveraging every resource available to provide impacted residents and Metro employees access to reduced fare programs, disaster assistance, and direct outreach and support. These recovery efforts are vital to helping our communities rebuild with the urgency and care they deserve.”

The motion also would authorize the CEO to identify and provide financial or other forms of assistance that are eligible for cost recovery from disaster assistance programs to Metro employees who have lost their homes in the wildfires or have been displaced as a result of the wildfires. As of today, at least 19 Metro employees have reported losing their homes in the wildfires and at least 46 have been displaced.

Lastly, the motion would authorize Metro to work with impacted jurisdictions to identify ways that Metro may aid in recovery efforts– including, but not limited to its fleet, services, expertise, and properties.

During today’s Executive Management Committee Meeting Supervisor Hilda Solis and Metro Board Member Whittier Councilmember Fernando Dutra joined the motion as co-authors and supporters.

This motion will be considered next Thursday at the full Metro Board meeting.