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Hahn Issues Statement on Recent Attacks on Metro Riders 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Issues Statement on Recent Attacks on Metro Riders

Los Angeles CA – Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor and Metro Board Chair Janice Hahn released the following statement in response to recent attacks on Metro riders:

“While I appreciate that law enforcement has been able to respond quickly to these recent incidents, not enough is being done to prevent these attacks from ever happening in the first place. My question is: where were uniformed law enforcement officers assigned to Metro and transit security officers while these attacks were happening? And what will Metro do differently now to prevent violent crimes in the future, like installing technology to detect and keep weapons out of our system?

These recent tragic incidents highlight just how much still needs to be done, even as Metro has surged its law enforcement and continues to spend hundreds of millions a year on safety. The public deserves transparency. Metro needs to provide a full accounting for how its multi-layered security are dispatched and a plan to improve these efforts to prevent future attacks. Our riders need to be and feel safe on our buses, trains, and stations no matter the time of day. Anything less is not good enough.”

Hahn Releases Statement on Early Morning Attack of Woman at a Pasadena Metro Station 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Releases Statement on Early Morning Attack of Woman at a Pasadena Metro Station

Los Angeles, CA — Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor and Chair of the Metro Board of Directors Janice Hahn issued the following statement regarding an early morning attack against a woman at the Allen Metro Station in Pasadena:

“The details of the attack against a woman early this morning at the Allen Station in Pasadena are disturbing and I am grateful that the victim is recovering and that the suspect is in custody. Our board will need a full investigation into this incident, an accounting of where both Metro’s contracted law enforcement and transit security were when this woman was attacked, and a plan to increase security during early morning commuting hours. Our trains, buses, and stations must be safe for our riders and we have to continue to implement safety reforms to get our system to that point.”

Hahn Issues Statement on New Metro Safety Measures 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Issues Statement on New Metro Safety Measures

Los Angeles, CA – Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor and new Metro Board Chair Janice Hahn released the following statement after the Metro Board unanimously approved new actions to improve safety and security on the Metro system:

“My top priority as Metro Chair is the safety of our riders and our employees. With the unanimous approval of our Board, we are moving forward with concrete actions to make our system more secure like expanding the successful tap-to-exit pilot program, new strategies to keep our elevators safe, and testing technology to detect people carrying weapons. You can’t take a weapon into Dodger Stadium and you shouldn’t be able to take weapons on Metro either.”

The safety measures approved by the board today are the result of a report-back originally requested by Supervisor Barger with Hahn amending the item to include weapons detection technology. You can read the full item here.

Today’s Metro Board of Directors meeting is Hahn’s first as Chair. Earlier this month, in her State of the Agency address Hahn outlined her priorities:
1. The safety of Metro riders and employees
2. Humanely lifting unhoused people off the Metro system and into shelter
3. Focusing on rider experience
4. Supporting Metro employees

Hahn is also riding Metro more often to better understand what riders are experiencing and bring their concerns to Metro leadership.

Hahn assumes Chairship of Metro with focus on Safety, Rider Experience 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn assumes Chairship of Metro with focus on Safety, Rider Experience

Los Angeles, CA– Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn assumed the Chair of the Metro Board of Directors and delivered a speech outlining her priorities for her year-long term with a focus on safety.

“We know that new lines and stations will ultimately fail if riders’ top concern isn’t whether the Metro system goes where they need it to — but whether they will reach their destination safely,” said Chair Hahn, to an audience of elected leaders and Metro employees.

Hahn spoke about the importance of law enforcement visibility on buses, trains and at Metro stations and praised the recent surge of police and Sheriff’s deputy presence on the system in response to violent crimes.

On top of safety, Hahn laid out additional priorities: helping unhoused people find shelter and assistance off the Metro system, focusing on the rider experience, and supporting Metro’s workforce.
She also spoke about her plan to ride Metro more often as Chair.

“When my father was a Supervisor, he would take a different route to the office through his district every day. And every time he came across a pothole, he would report it to his staff and tell them that, the next time he drove that road, he expected it to be fixed,” said Hahn. “So, I am going to take a page out of my dad’s book. I haven’t ridden Metro as much as I should have in the past, but I am going to make it a point to ride more while I am Chair. And at our Board meetings, I am going to talk about what I experience as a Metro rider. That will mean calling out problems I see — as well as praising the things that go right.”

At the event, the former chair Mayor Karen Bass formally passed the gavel to Hahn. The chair of Metro rotates annually between the Mayor of Los Angeles, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and one of the City Selection Committee Members.

Hahn has served on the Metro Board of Directors since her election to the Board of Supervisors in 2016 and has championed building the Southeast Gateway Line from Artesia to Downtown, the preservation of the Dodger Stadium Express, and providing better mental health outreach to people in need on the Metro system.

Watch full speech: https://fb.watch/teJylJr1Db/ (Starts at 57:15)
Read full transcript of Hahn’s speech here.

Hahn Applauds Vote for Metro’s Eastside Extension to Whittier 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Applauds Vote for Metro’s Eastside Extension to Whittier

Los Angeles, CA – Today, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who also serves as the Vice Chair of the Metro Board of Directors, is applauding a vote today to approve the Environmental Impact Report and move forward with plans to extend the Metro E Line to Whittier. In the wake of the unanimous vote, she issued the following statement:

“People are already commuting every day between the Westside and Downtown LA and the eastern communities I represent like Commerce, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, and Whittier. But what they haven’t had is a fast, affordable single-seat ride to get where they’re going. With the Board’s support for this project today we are on the path to making the Eastside Extension to Whittier a reality and transforming how so many people in these communities move.”

Hahn Issues Statement After Stabbing on Metro Bus in Lynwood 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Issues Statement After Stabbing on Metro Bus in Lynwood

Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles County Supervisor and Vice Chair of the Metro Board of Directors Janice Hahn has issued the following statement after a man was stabbed by another passenger on a Metro bus in Lynwood today:

“This attack today on a Metro bus in Lynwood is horrific and yet another grim reason that we need a surge of law enforcement on our transit system. People who rely on Metro every day need to know they can take our buses and trains safely. I appreciate our Sheriff’s deputies who responded to the scene quickly and have detained a person of interest. Thankfully, I am told that the victim’s injuries are not life threatening. I am praying for their quick recovery, and I am so sorry that they had to endure this.”

Supervisor Hahn Issues Statement on Commerce Bus Incident 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Supervisor Hahn Issues Statement on Commerce Bus Incident

Los Angeles, CA — Today around 4:50 pm, a passenger on a Metro bus in the City of Commerce was shot and killed. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has detained a person of interest in the case.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn released the following statement:

“Just this morning we announced a law enforcement surge across our entire Metro system.

However, I still believe we need to find a way to keep weapons off our system. You can’t get into a Dodger game, a concert or on an airplane without going through security.

We can and must do better. I am committed to making our transit system safer for all, no matter the cost.”

Southeast Gateway Line Clears Final Hurdle Before Construction 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Southeast Gateway Line Clears Final Hurdle Before Construction

Metro Board Certifies Final Environmental Report for Phase 1 of 19-mile Line Through Southeast LA and Gateway Cities

Hahn and local elected officials during today’s Metro Board meeting.

Los Angeles – This morning, the LA Metro Board unanimously certified the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the first segment of the future Southeast Gateway Line. With the certification, the 14.5-mile segment of the project can now move on to the construction phase, expected to begin by the end of 2024. When completed, the 19-mile Southeast Gateway Line will serve 1.4 million residents between Union Station in Downtown LA and Artesia, running through Vernon, Huntington Park, Bell, Cudahy, South Gate, Downey, Paramount, Bellflower, and Cerritos.

“No more waiting and wondering, this project will go forward,” said Supervisor and Metro Board Vice Chair Janice Hahn, who represents the region. “The era of Southeast LA and the Gateway Cities being left behind by new Metro rail projects is over. The cities along the line are ready, future riders are ready, and now we can finally get to work building this transformational project.”

The 14.5-mile phase of the project that can now begin construction covers the line’s segment between the A Line’s Slauson Station and Artesia, and will have eight stations. 44% of residents along the line live below the poverty level. Construction and operation of the Southeast Gateway Line will create between 37,000 to 46,000 jobs and generate $5 billion per year in economic activity for the region.

This $7.1 billion project is Metro’s top priority for federal funding. Certification of the Final EIR brings the agency one major step closer to federal funding to go along with over $2 billion in local and State funds already committed to the project.

Local elected officials celebrated the vote. L to R: Vilma Cuellar Stallings, Paramount; Maria Davila, South Gate; Ali Taj, Artesia.

Every city along the Southeast Gateway Line has entered into a Master Cooperative Agreement with Metro, showing their support for the project and desire to get it built as soon as possible. Several local elected officials from those cities attended the Metro Board meeting today and expressed support for the project:

“Many of our residents will depend on the Southeast Gateway Line to move around, and I look forward to welcoming visitors from across our region to Artesia. I’ve been on board since day one and we are more than ready to finally get to work in collaboration with Metro to get this line built.” – Ali Taj, Mayor Pro Tem of Artesia

“I would like to express our support for this project. Once it’s fully completed, the light rail line will provide a one-seat ride between our communities and Downtown LA. We look forward to having our communities in partnership with LA Metro.” – Vilma Cuellar Stallings, Paramount Councilmember and Vice Chair of Board of Directors, Gateway Cities Council of Governments

“This community has been long waiting for rail transportation equity and this a big step today for that to happen. Southeast Gateway Line signifies new job and educational opportunities, and it will change the lives of many in our cities.” – Karina Macias, Mayor of Huntington Park

“I represent over 100,000 people, and I can tell you that this project will be an impactful line. As a city we are there to support this project.” – Maria Davila, Vice Mayor of South Gate

Hahn Asks for Fixes to Dangerous 105 Freeway Intersection 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Hahn Asks for Fixes to Dangerous 105 Freeway Intersection
Intersection saw 12 crashes and 2 fatalities in 2023 alone

Screenshot from CBS LA news coverage

Norwalk, CA – Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn is asking the State of California to make immediate safety improvements to the dangerous intersection where the I-105 abruptly ends in Norwalk at Studebaker Road. The intersection had 12 severe crashes in 2023 alone, including two fatalities.

“The way the 105 freeway ends is dangerous and the intersection has become a crash-magnet,” said Supervisor Hahn. “Too many people have been injured or killed because of this badly designed freeway. I am asking the State to put in place safety improvements as soon as possible to safe lives and protect drivers and the Norwalk community.”

Crashes at the intersection have become so common that the medical facility which operated at the intersection was forced to close due to the number of cars that have crashed into it. Last year, Hahn’s office convened representatives from the City of Norwalk, Caltrans, and other agencies to find ways to work together to deliver safety improvements, and since then Norwalk and Caltrans have been discussing what can be done.

Today, Hahn sent a letter to California Secretary of Transportation Toks Omishakin asking the State Transportation Agency to work immediately to install more lighting, signage, and rumble strips along the I-105 freeway leading up to this intersection as a means of preventing future accidents.

Read full letter to Secretary Omishakin here.

A medical facility located at the intersection was forced to close after numerous collisions.

Fourth District Communities Will Receive 20% of California’s Total from USDOT Grant Program 150 150 Hayley Munguia

Fourth District Communities Will Receive 20% of California’s Total from USDOT Grant Program
Transit, pedestrian, and open space improvements coming to Southeast LA, Long Beach, and Norwalk, among other communities

Los Angeles CA – This week, the United States Department of Transportation announced $237 million in grants for transportation and open space projects in California through its Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods (RCN) Program. At least $47,200,000–about 20% of California’s total award–will go to transportation improvement projects in Los Angeles County’s Fourth District, including:

  • $5,000,000 for a pedestrian bridge in Wilmington
  • $1,200,000 for the Hamilton Loop project in Long Beach
  • Approx. $41,000,000 for:
    • Major improvements to Florence Ave bus service through Southeast Los Angeles
    • Mobility hubs in Norwalk (C Line Norwalk Station) and Long Beach (A Line Willow Street Station)
    • Safety improvements at C Line Norwalk Station

LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn released the following statement:

“For too long, communities in my district have felt like an afterthought when big infrastructure projects were built. These $47 million in federal grants represent a long overdue investment in the future of our communities. They are going to reconnect Wilmington to its waterfront, provide critical more open space in North Long Beach, improve bus service along one of our most-used bus corridors in Southeast LA, and provide mobility hubs in Norwalk and Long Beach ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

I’m thankful to Senators Padilla and Butler and to President Biden and Secretary Buttigieg for bringing these historic investments to our communities.”

Senator Alex Padilla released the full list of California projects receiving funding from the program. The goals of the Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program include improving “access to daily needs such as jobs, education, healthcare, food, and recreation” and “fostering equitable development and restoration.”