Los Angeles Metro
| File:LA Metro logo.svg Logo of Metro | |
| Company type | Public agency |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Predecessor | Southern California Rapid Transit District, Los Angeles County Transportation Commission |
| Founded | February 1, 1993 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles , United States |
Area served | Los Angeles County, California, United States |
| Products | Bus, bus rapid transit, light rail, rapid transit (subway) |
Number of employees | 10,290 |
| Website | metro |
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, commonly known as Metro, is responsible for planning, operating, and managing funding for the majority of the transportation infrastructure within Los Angeles County, California, which is the most densely populated county in the United States.
Metro directly manages a comprehensive public transit system that includes bus, bus rapid transit, light rail, and rapid transit (subway) operations. Beyond its own services, Metro also allocates funding to transit providers it does not operate, such as the Metrolink commuter rail, various municipal bus agencies, and paratransit programs. Furthermore, Metro oversees funding and planning for the county’s freeway network and railroad initiatives.
As of , Metro reported a total ridership of , averaging on weekdays as of . It stands as the largest transit agency in California by passenger numbers and ranks second across the nation.
Background
Formed on February 1, 1993, by an act of the California State Legislature, Metro emerged from the consolidation of two entities: the Southern California Rapid Transit District (RTD) and the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission (LACTC).
Established in 1964, RTD was the primary operator of public transit services throughout urban Southern California, including counties such as Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange, and Riverside. It succeeded the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority and absorbed eleven struggling bus companies. Starting in the early 1980s, RTD divested its services outside Los Angeles County.
The LACTC was created in 1977 as a state-mandated local transportation commission tasked with managing transportation funding for Los Angeles County’s transit and highway systems.
During the 1980s, disputes emerged between RTD and LACTC—particularly concerning rail projects—such as LACTC’s Blue Line (now A Line) light rail terminating at Pico Station rather than connecting with RTD’s Red Line (now B Line) subway at 7th Street/Metro Center station.
Today, Metro combines the responsibilities of both predecessor agencies by handling transportation planning, policy development, funding allocation, and mobility solutions throughout the county. It serves as the primary public transit operator for Los Angeles—the nation’s second-largest city—while the smaller LADOT manages the DASH bus network within overlapping service areas.
Since 1995, Metro has been headquartered in the Metro Headquarters Building, a 26-story office tower located next to Los Angeles Union Station, which Metro acquired in 2011.
Operating one of the largest public transportation systems in the United States by ridership, Metro covers an area of 1,433 mi2 (3,711 km2) with a fleet of 2,000 buses during peak hours and maintains of urban rail lines. With a workforce numbering 10,290 employees, it ranks among the region’s top employers.
In addition to its own operations, Metro provides partial funding to sixteen municipal bus operators and supports a variety of transportation projects including bike lanes, pedestrian pathways, local road maintenance, highway enhancements, freight movement programs, regional commuter rail (Metrolink), freeway assistance patrols, and emergency call boxes throughout Los Angeles County.
To advance environmental sustainability goals, Metro invests heavily in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure that benefits more than 10.1 million residents countywide.
Security across Metro facilities—including buses and trains—is managed by the Transit Services Bureau under contract. This is supplemented by enforcement efforts from both the Metro Transit Enforcement Department and the Los Angeles Police Department at Union Station and on city-operated rail lines.
Metro Rail
Metro Rail manages a network of two subway lines and four light rail routes, encompassing with a total of 103 stations as of June 2025.
- is a light rail route linking Azusa to Long Beach through Downtown Los Angeles.
- is a subway route connecting North Hollywood with Downtown Los Angeles.
- is a light rail line extending from Westchester to Norwalk, primarily following the 105 freeway median and offering direct access to Los Angeles International Airport via the LAX/Metro Transit Center station.
- is a subway line serving the Mid-Wilshire area and Downtown Los Angeles, sharing most of its path with the B Line and currently undergoing westward expansion.
- is a light rail service running between Santa Monica and East Los Angeles, passing through Downtown Los Angeles.
- is a light rail corridor from Expo/Crenshaw to Redondo Beach, which includes the recently opened LAX/Metro Transit Center infill station as of June 6, 2025.
Metro Bus
Metro functions as the leading bus service provider throughout the Los Angeles Basin, the San Fernando Valley, and the western portion of the San Gabriel Valley extending to Arcadia. Other regions within Los Angeles County, such as the Antelope Valley and eastern San Gabriel Valley, receive service from different agencies partially subsidized by Metro.
By June 2023, Metro Bus operated 117 routes with over 11,000 designated stops. The majority of these routes offer local services with frequent stops; Metro Rapid delivers limited-stop service at key intersections, while Metro Express utilizes Southern California freeways for nonstop regional transit.
Metro Busway
The Metro Busway represents a bus rapid transit (BRT) network consisting of two lines that run along dedicated or shared bus corridors. As of May 2016, this system spans , includes 29 stations, and records more than 42,000 weekday boardings.
Designed similarly to Metro Rail vehicles and operations, Metro Busway features dedicated stations—except along the Metro J Line in Downtown LA—priority at intersections, and silver-colored buses that resemble rail cars.
- operates between Chatsworth and North Hollywood, with some services terminating at Canoga Park.
- connects El Monte, Downtown Los Angeles, and Harbor Gateway, with some trips extending to San Pedro.
Busways
The Metro Busway J Line utilizes two semi-exclusive bus corridors integrated within Southern California freeways, also accommodating other bus routes to enhance travel speed:
- The El Monte Busway combines a bus-only lane with high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes along the San Bernardino Freeway (I-10), providing express transit between Downtown Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley. This facility is operated by both Metro and Foothill Transit.
- The Harbor Transitway merges dedicated bus lanes with HOT lanes along the Harbor Freeway (I-110), offering express service connecting San Pedro with Downtown Los Angeles. Operators on this route include Metro, GTrans, LADOT, OC Bus, and Torrance Transit.
Additional Services
- Metro Art: Oversees commissioning and installation of public artworks within Metro stations to improve the transit atmosphere.
- Metro Bike Share: A bike-sharing program operating in Downtown LA, Central LA, Hollywood, North Hollywood, and the Westside areas.
- Metro ExpressLanes: High-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes available on the El Monte Busway and Harbor Transitway corridors.
- Metro Freeway Service Patrol: A collaborative effort with Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol offering complimentary roadside assistance and towing on freeways.
- Metro Micro: An on-demand shuttle service utilizing vans across eight designated zones in the region.
- Cycling Infrastructure: Development and maintenance of bicycle facilities supporting both commuting and recreational activities.
- HOV Lanes: Dedicated lanes for carpools, vanpools, and express buses to facilitate faster travel.
- Metrolink: The regional commuter rail network in Southern California, partially financed by Metro.
- Pacific Surfliner: Also partially supported by Metro funding; Metro holds two seats on the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency board.
Fare Structure and Payment Methods
The standard fare for Metro services—including local buses, express buses, and Metro Rail—is $1.75. In July 2023, Metro implemented daily and weekly fare caps that replaced traditional transit passes. Fare capping allows each ride to count toward a daily or weekly unlimited fare limit, ensuring riders pay the lowest possible amount. Reduced or no-cost fares are offered to seniors, individuals with disabilities, Medicare beneficiaries, low-income passengers, and students.
The main payment option is the TAP card, a contactless stored-value card accepted by Metro and 25 additional transit agencies across Los Angeles County. TAP cards are mandatory for boarding Metro Rail, obtaining free bus transfers, and using fare capping; however, cash payments remain available for single-ride bus fares. TAP cards can be purchased at station vending machines, authorized retailers, online platforms, and Metro Customer Care Centers.
Fare gates have been installed since 2007 at all B, C, D, and K Line stations as well as select A and E Line stations to combat fare evasion. The initial investment and effectiveness of these gates drew some criticism.
Students from K-12 schools and community colleges participating in Los Angeles-area programs may join Metro’s GoPass initiative, granting unlimited free access to LA Metro and 15 other county transit systems. Originally launched as a pilot in 2021 and extended once, GoPass became permanent in April 2024.
| Fare Category | Standard | Senior (62+)/ Disabled/ Medicare |
Student (K-12/College/ Vocational) (without GoPass) |
Student
(with GoPass) |
Low Income (LIFE) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base fare | $1.75 | $0.35 (off-peak) $0.75 (peak) |
$0.75 | Complimentary | 20 free rides before regular fare applies |
| 1-day cap | $5 | $2.50 | $2.50 | ||
| 7-day cap | $18 | $5 | $6 | ||
| Metro-to-Muni transfer | $0.50 | $0.25 | $0.50 | — |
Ridership Statistics
The Metro A Line consistently achieves the highest ridership levels and operational efficiency among letter-designated lines, whereas the Metro K Line has the lowest patronage in this category. The average daily boardings alongside passenger miles for 2024 are as follows:
| Template:LACMTA icon | 15,972 | 8,635 | 7,091 | 139,253| Service | Weekday Boardings | Saturday Boardings | Sunday & Holiday Boardings | Average Weekday Passenger Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Rail | ||||
| Template:LACMTA icon Template:LACMTA icon |
66,638 | 52,855 | 45,934 | 339,154 |
| Light Rail | ||||
| Template:LACMTA icon | 66,745 | 50,810 | 44,033 | 535,805 |
| Template:LACMTA icon | 20,987 | 13,897 | 12,938 | 139,624 |
| Template:LACMTA icon | 46,986 | 38,003 | 31,058 | 312,721 |
| Template:LACMTA icon | 3,682 | 2,931 | 2,576 | 12,704 |
| Bus and Bus rapid transit (BRT) | ||||
| Metro Bus | 746,464 | 514,720 | 426,598 | 2,569,662 |
| Template:LACMTA icon
| 13,748 | 9,047 | 7,645 | 80,389 | ||||
| Total Bus and Rail
| 951,502 | 673,216 | 563,136 | 3,909,671 | ||||
Governance
The leadership of Metro is under the direction of CEO Stephanie Wiggins. As a joint powers authority, its governance structure is composed of a board of directors consisting of 14 members, 13 of whom possess voting rights. This board includes:
- Five supervisors from Los Angeles County
- The Mayor of Los Angeles along with three appointees designated by the mayor, one of whom must be a member of the City Council
- Four elected representatives from other regions within LA County: San Gabriel/Pomona Valley, Arroyo/Verdugo, Gateway Cities, and Westside Cities
- One non-voting member appointed by the Governor of California, typically the Director of Caltrans District 7
The board is responsible for making critical decisions, whereas five regional Service Councils provide advisory input on localized matters such as bus stop locations and service adjustments. These councils facilitate public hearings and collaborate with management to ensure services meet the specific needs of their respective regions.
Additionally, Metro personnel engage in governance activities across various affiliated regional transportation entities, including the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency, Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority, Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority, Southern California Regional Rail Authority, High Desert Corridor Joint Powers Agency, and Inglewood Transit Connector Joint Powers Authority.
Board of Directors
Chair
- Fernando Dutra, Appointee from the Los Angeles County City Selection Committee representing Southeast Long Beach sector, City of Whittier, District 4
Vice Chair
- Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker, Appointed by the Mayor of Los Angeles
2nd Vice Chair
- Kathryn Barger, Los Angeles County Board Supervisor for District 5
Executive Board Members
- Karen Bass, Mayor of Los Angeles
- James T. Butts Jr., Appointed by Los Angeles County City Selection Committee for Southwest Corridor sector, Mayor of Inglewood
- Janice Hahn, Los Angeles County Board Supervisor for District 4
- Lindsey Horvath, Los Angeles County Board Supervisor for District 3
- Holly Mitchell, Los Angeles County Board Supervisor for District 2
- Ara Najarian, Appointed by Los Angeles County City Selection Committee representing North County/San Fernando Valley sector, City of Glendale, At Large District
- Imelda Padilla, Appointed by the Mayor of Los Angeles representing District 6
- Tim Sandoval, Appointed by Los Angeles County City Selection Committee for San Gabriel Valley sector, Mayor of Pomona
- Hilda Solis, Los Angeles County Board Supervisor for District 1
- Katy Yaroslavsky, Appointed by the Mayor of Los Angeles representing District 5
Ex-officio Board Member
- Gloria Roberts, Governor of California appointee and Director of Caltrans District 7
Funding
Metro’s budget for 2020 totaled $7.2 billion and was supported through a combination of federal, state, county and municipal taxes, bond issuances, and revenue from fares. The primary income streams are derived from four distinct half-percent sales taxes—Proposition A, Proposition C, Measure R, and Measure M—each generating $873 million. Additional financing includes a quarter-percent Transportation Development Act sales tax ($436.5 million), diesel tax funds from State Transit Assistance ($215.8 million), and gas tax revenues allocated under SB 1 State of Good Repair funding ($30.1 million).
Revenue from passenger fares amounted to $284.5 million, while toll collections from Metro ExpressLanes contributed $58.4 million. Advertising revenues brought in $25.6 million and other miscellaneous income totaled $71.2 million. Grants and reimbursements accounted for $1.18 billion in funding, with bond proceeds combined with prior year carryover funds reaching $1.41 billion.
| Revenue Source | US$ Millions (2020) |
|---|---|
| Proposition A (0.5% sales tax) | 873 |
| Proposition C (0.5% sales tax) | 873 |
| Measure R (0.5% sales tax) | 873 |
| Measure M (0.5% sales tax) | 873 |
| Transportation Development Act (0.25% sales tax) | 436.5 |
| State Transit Assistance ("Diesel Tax") | 215.8 |
| SB 1 State of Good Repair Funding ("Gas Tax") | 30.1 |
| Metro Passenger Fares | 284.5 |
| Metro ExpressLanes Tolls | 58.4 |
| Advertising | 25.6 |
| Other Revenues | 71.2 |
| Grants Reimbursements | 1,184.8 |
| Bond Proceeds & Prior Year Carryover | 1,408.6 |
| Total Resources | 7,207.6 |
Jurisdiction
This agency functions under California state authority, adhering to statewide regulations while also considering regional and local ordinances during transit infrastructure projects. It plays a role in shaping policies such as statewide housing initiatives, understanding that residential development patterns directly affect transportation demands.
Performance indicators include growth in ridership among low-income populations—who constitute the bulk of public transit users—as well as enhancements in environmental quality and public health, demonstrating beneficial effects on the communities served.
Fleet
Metro maintains the nation’s largest compressed natural gas (CNG) bus fleet, achieving reductions of 90% in particulate matter, 80% in carbon monoxide, and 20% in greenhouse gas emissions relative to diesel-powered buses. A substantial portion of its fleet also comprises battery electric buses, particularly on the G Line busway, which has fully shifted to zero-emission electric vehicles. The agency envisions a complete transition of its bus fleet to electric propulsion. These buses are equipped with on-board visual screens and automated audio announcements for upcoming stops.
The Metro Rail system operates light rail vehicles alongside rapid transit subway cars. The light rail fleet serves the A, C, E, and K Lines with 87-foot articulated, high-floor double-ended cars powered by overhead catenary systems, commonly arranged in two- or three-car formations. Models include the Kinki Sharyo P3010, Siemens P2000, and Ansaldobreda P2550; the Nippon Sharyo P865/P2020 series has been retired. Subway cars running on the B and D Lines consist of 75-foot married-pair electric multiple units configured in four- or six-car sets, featuring CRRC HR4000 and Breda A650 models.
NextGen Bus Plan
The agency is rolling out its "NextGen Bus Plan," which reorganizes service by discontinuing most Metro Rapid routes and underperforming Metro Local lines to concentrate funding on remaining corridors. This strategy aims to double the number of frequent bus routes—defined as service intervals of 10 minutes or less—and broaden midday, evening, and weekend availability while ensuring that 99% of existing riders remain within a quarter-mile walk of service.
D Line Extension
Phase 1 of the D Line Extension introduces three new subway stations at Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax, and Wilshire/La Cienega. Construction commenced in 2014 with an anticipated completion date in 2025. Phase 2 extends service to Century City, targeted for completion in 2026, followed by Phase 3 reaching Westwood projected for 2027.
Foothill Extension
The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority is extending the A Line eastward beyond its previous endpoint at Sierra Madre Villa station in Pasadena. Phase 2A reaching APU/Citrus College station in Azusa opened in March 2016. Construction on Phase 2B to Pomona North station began in July 2020 and achieved substantial completion by January 2025; it is expected to open after testing during summer 2025. The extension will proceed with two additional stations reaching Montclair Transcenter in Montclair, with construction starting in spring 2025 and concluding by 2030.
Los Angeles Aerial Rapid Transit
In collaboration with LA Aerial Rapid Transit Technologies LLC, Metro is advancing plans for an aerial gondola system that would connect Dodger Stadium and adjacent neighborhoods to Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles. This gondola is engineered to carry around 5,000 passengers per hour in each direction, cutting travel time to roughly seven minutes. The initiative also includes enhancements to the nearby Los Angeles State Historic Park.
Long-range Measure M plans
Measure M, approved in November 2016, builds upon Measure R by transforming and increasing the half-cent sales tax into a permanent one-cent tax. This funding mechanism is expected to allocate $120 billion toward highway and transit infrastructure over the next four decades. The investment aims to create more than 778,000 jobs and stimulate $79.3 billion in economic activity within the Los Angeles region.
Other projects financed by Measure M encompass:
- A streetcar system serving Downtown Los Angeles
- The Los Angeles County portion of the High Desert Corridor—a multi-modal corridor featuring freeway, rail, and bikeway links between Antelope and Victor Valleys; however, Caltrans suspended the freeway segment in 2019
- Bus Rapid Transit connecting North Hollywood’s G and B Lines with Pasadena’s A Line
- Conversion of the G Line from Bus Rapid Transit to Light Rail service
- Light Rail expansions along Van Nuys Boulevard reaching San Fernando (East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit Project) and along the West Santa Ana Branch from Union Station to Artesia
- Bus Rapid Transit on Vermont Avenue linking the B Line at Hollywood Boulevard with the C Line at 120th Street
- Southern extension of the K Line to Torrance Transit Center
- Eastern expansion of the C Line reaching Norwalk/Santa Fe Springs Metrolink station
- Sepulveda Transit Corridor featuring either a heavy rail tunnel or monorail connecting the G Line in San Fernando Valley with the D Line at Westwood/UCLA
- Heavy Rail or Monorail extension from the D Line at Westwood/UCLA to LAX
- Extension of the E Line from East Los Angeles with a branch toward Whittier following the San Gabriel River corridor
- Bus Rapid Transit route from LAX to the E Line at Santa Monica via Lincoln Boulevard
- Bus Rapid Transit enhancements in North San Fernando Valley, later scaled back to local bus service improvements
See also
- Transportation in Los Angeles
- List of Los Angeles Metro Rail stations
- List of Los Angeles Metro Busway stations
- List of former Metro Express routes
- People
- Hal Bernson, former chairman of the Authority