What to bring: Photo ID, Proof of Income (you have the option to self-certify or provide proof of income to verify you meet the LIFE Program income eligibility). 

The post LIFE Program Sign-up Event at Celebrating Families 4th Annual Breastfeeding & Family Resource Fair appeared first on LA Metro.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) today announced that William “Bill” Scott has been selected to serve as the agency’s first Chief of Police and Emergency Management. With more than 35 years of law enforcement experience, including eight years as Chief of Police in San Francisco and 27 years with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Scott returns to the city where he built his career to lead one of the most significant public safety transitions in LA Metro’s history. The decision follows an extensive engagement process with the LA Metro Board, employees and community stakeholders to identify the qualities essential for the department’s next leader. 

Scott joins Metro to lead its new public safety department, which was approved by the LA Metro Board last June as the Transit Community Public Safety Department (TCPSD), will unify and oversee all LA Metro’s safety operations under one command structure. As Chief, Scott will be responsible for building the department from the ground up, overseeing everything from command staff selection, training standards, to uniforms, technology systems, and deployment strategies. 

Chief Scott will also lead LA Metro’s security coordination for many upcoming high-profile global events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 2027 Super Bowl and 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“This moment demands a leader like Chief Scott, who brings vision and integrity to this important role,” said Metro Board Chair and Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn. “He understands that real public safety is about more than enforcement, it’s about trust, transparency and working with the community to make every rider feel safe.”

Scott’s appointment comes after an extensive national search and stakeholder engagement process informed by feedback from employees, community members and public safety experts. LA Metro conducted a series of listening sessions where participants emphasized characteristics they wanted in a new chief.

“We heard the community’s call for a leader who is calm under pressure, emotionally intelligent and politically astute,” said LA Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. “Someone who can balance enforcement with empathy and collaboration. Chief Scott brings all of that and more. His experience leading reform in San Francisco, coupled with his decades of service in our own neighborhoods with LAPD, make him uniquely qualified to deliver the safe, responsive and equitable security system our riders deserve. This is a defining moment for Metro’s public safety strategy.”

During his tenure in San Francisco, Scott was nationally recognized for his implementation of 21st Century policing reforms, completing all 272 recommendations issued by the U.S. Department of Justice. Under his leadership, San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) significantly reduced use-of-force incidents, prioritized de-escalation training and improved violent crime clearance rates well above national averages. He also introduced innovative tools like Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) cameras and drones to address organized retail theft and property crime. As chief of SFPD, he oversees safety and security on San Francisco’s Muni system, and over his tenure, crime on their transit system has decreased precipitously – just 2.3 crimes per 100,000 miles of travel in March 2025. Scott’s law enforcement philosophy is rooted in community policing, fairness and results.

“This is an incredible opportunity at this point in my career,” said Chief Scott. “How many people can say they have built a public safety operation from the very beginning? I’m honored to be back in L.A., but even more honored to have this chance to lead this next chapter for LA Metro. Together, we have an opportunity to create something that reflects the values of this region, supports our frontline teams and earns the trust of the public we serve.”

The appointment reflects LA Metro’s commitment to elevating safety and accountability while fostering community partnerships and equitable enforcement practices. The new Chief brings a strategic, solutions-oriented mindset and has a proven track record in building trust with diverse communities.

Scott will also focus on building a strong internal leadership team, strengthening relationships with local law enforcement agencies and reinforcing LA Metro’s safety culture through clear, consistent communication. Key priorities will include engagement with community-based organizations, strengthening ties with the District Attorney’s Office and ensuring fairness and transparency in enforcement policies.

Chief Scott will officially assume his role June 23, 2025.

About The Chief

Chief William “Bill” Scott

William “Bill” Scott was appointed to serve as LA Metro’s first-ever Chief of Police and Emergency Management on May 07, 2025, becoming the agency’s top public safety executive. With more than three decades of experience in law enforcement and a national reputation for reform-minded leadership, Chief Scott steps into this role as Metro expands its multilayered approach to transit safety across Los Angeles County, including a new, in-house law enforcement agency.

Prior to joining Metro, Chief Scott served as Chief of Police for the City of San Francisco beginning in 2017, following a 27-year career with the Los Angeles Police Department where he rose to the rank of Deputy Chief. His leadership in San Francisco has been widely recognized for driving public safety improvements, while also advancing a nationally watched police reform initiative.

Chief Scott led the San Francisco Police Department through a voluntary reform effort shaped by 272 recommendations from the U.S. Department of Justice, initially launched under the Obama administration. After the national reform effort was abandoned in 2017, he proactively partnered with the California Department of Justice to ensure the city’s reform work continued. The department submitted its final responses to those recommendations on April 1, 2024, with a framework in place to ensure ongoing accountability and progress.

During his tenure, Chief Scott guided the department through complex challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, heightened national scrutiny of policing following the murder of George Floyd and ongoing efforts to reduce crime while building trust. Under his leadership, violent crime in San Francisco remained well below levels seen in other major U.S. cities and clearance rates for homicides consistently exceeded national averages.

He also embraced innovation in addressing persistent public safety concerns, launching new strategies to combat car burglaries, organized retail theft and other property crimes. This included the use of modern technologies like automated license plate readers (ALPR) and drones to improve investigations and increase accountability.

As chief of SFPD, he oversees safety and security on San Francisco’s Muni system, and over his tenure, crime on their transit system has decreased precipitously – just 2.3 crimes per 100,000 miles of travel in March 2025.  Fare evasion is down 30%, and 72% of customers rate their system good or excellent.

He has also led his team through major global events – like the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings, which brought 21 heads of state together for critical talks about the world economy.

Chief Scott was raised in Birmingham, Ala. and holds a degree in accounting from the University of Alabama. He is also a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police. He and his wife have three children.

About Metro

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is building the most ambitious transportation infrastructure program in the United States and is working to greatly improve mobility through its Vision 2028 Plan. Metro is the lead transportation planning and funding agency for L.A. County and carries nearly 1 million boardings daily on a fleet of 2,200 low-emission buses and seven rail lines.

Stay informed by following Metro on The Source and El Pasajero at metro.net, facebook.com/losangelesmetro, x.com/metrolosangeles, x.com/metroLAalerts and instagram.com/metrolosangeles.

The post LA Metro Names William “Bill” Scott as Inaugural Chief to Lead New Public Safety Department appeared first on LA Metro.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is expanding the Board-approved TAP-to-Exit program to Union Station (B/D Lines) beginning Feb. 18. Turnstiles at the historic transportation station will be latched at both the entrances and exits to the rail lines, so riders will need to tap their TAP card or scan their valid Metrolink fare to enter and exit the station.

Metro began informing riders about the expanded program on Feb.11 via signage at Union Station and the distribution of brochures, both available in English and Spanish. On Feb. 18, Metro Ambassadors and TAP Blue Shirts will be on-site to assist passengers with loading their fares, while representatives from Metro’s LIFE program will help enroll income-qualified riders. The education period will last through Tuesday, Feb. 25, after which security and law enforcement officers will begin issuing citations for those who do not have valid fares.

Metro is expanding the TAP-to-Exit program as part of the agency’s ongoing public safety effort. Controlling access to the system helps to ensure that people are using the system for their transportation needs and is just one of the ways that Metro is working to improve safety. Since 2024, Metro has been deploying more security officers and contracted law enforcement partners to increase the visibility of uniformed law enforcement officers on the system, as well as upgrading camera technology and lighting at the stations.

The TAP-to-Exit program was first launched at the North Hollywood B Line Station in May 2024, followed by the Downtown Santa Monica E Line Station in September 2024. The program has received positive feedback from Metro riders. The North Hollywood station pilot transformed behavior along the 14 B-Line stations with reported crime and other issues (fights, drug use and graffiti) having dropped by more than 40 percent on the Transit Watch app. In a survey of North Hollywood riders, 90 percent stated that this pilot made the station feel cleaner and 86 percent stated that this pilot made them feel safer. Following the expansion to Downtown Santa Monica, Transit Watch incidents dropped 55 percent on the E Line when TAP-to Exit was paired with fare enforcement.

TAP-to-Exit is an effective, common fare compliance practice around the world and in major transit systems across the nation, including Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and Metropolitan-Atlanta Regional Transit Authority (MARTA).

Data from Metro’s three contracted law enforcement partners revealed that up to 94 percent of individuals arrested on the system for violent crime do not possess valid fare or even a TAP card, which is required to ride on Metro trains and buses. By expanding the TAP-to-Exit program, Metro aims to prevent unauthorized use and maintain a safe environment for everyone.

Since TAP-to-Exit was implemented, the program has automatically corrected nearly 120,000 unpaid passenger exits, translating to over $130,000 in fares recuperated alone.

Metro has several programs that support making it more affordable for all riders. Reduced-price transit passes, such as the student GoPass, which offers free transit passes to K-12 and community college students, and the LIFE program, which provides free rides and reduced fares to low-income customers, are increasingly helping these qualified riders. 
 
Metro continues to offer a fare capping program under which riders who pay with a TAP card pay no more $5 a day or $18 over seven days. Once they’ve reached those limits, they ride free for the remainder of the day or seven-day period. 
 
And Metro’s Mobility Wallet Pilot Program provides in-need Angelenos the freedom to choose the mode that best suits their needs by providing a debit card with $150 per month to spend on transportation. The card can be used to take the bus, ride the train, use bike share, take Metro-Micro and more. 

Information on all Metro’s reduced fare programs, including discounts for seniors, persons with disabilities and college students can be found at: metro.net/riding/fares/ 

About Metro
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is building the most ambitious transportation infrastructure program in the United States and is working to greatly improve mobility through its Vision 2028 Plan. Metro is the lead transportation planning and funding agency for L.A. County and carries one million boardings daily on six electric rail lines and 118 bus routes utilizing more than 2,200 low-emission buses.

Stay informed by following Metro on The Source and El Pasajero  at metro.net,  facebook.com/losangelesmetro, x.com/metrolosangeles and  x.com/metroLAalerts and  instagram.com/metrolosangeles.

The post Metro’s Successful TAP-to-Exit Program Expands to Union Station beginning Feb. 18 appeared first on LA Metro.

L.A. Metro welcomes the 2025 Metro Youth Council to the agency. The council, comprised of young individuals aged 14 to 17, will share their ideas and perspectives on current Metro projects, offering insights on ways to enhance the transportation system for everyone. Representing communities across Los Angeles County, these youth will serve a one-year term. 

“These young people aren’t just our current riders, they are our future Metro riders and as we make decisions that will shape Metro for decades to come, young people need to be at the table,” said Metro Board Chair and L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn. “These commissioners have ideas, and I hope we can learn as much from them as they learn from us.” 

Since its inception, the Metro Youth Council has contributed valuable feedback that led to improvements in the Transit Watch 3.0 App, the Customer Experience Plan and the Customer Experience Survey. They also submitted letters of support to the Metro Board advocating for the continuation of GoPass, a program that provides free rides for students at participating schools on Metro and partner transit systems.  

“I’m very proud of the students who participate in the Metro Youth Council,” said Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins. “They have played a key role in creating and launching the Youth Destination Digital Guide, a resource designed to help their peers navigate and discover youth-focused destinations across the county.” 

Members of the 2025 Metro Youth Council include:  

Natalie C. – Palmdale 

Alicia C.- Huntington Park 

Hana C. – Los Angeles 

Michelle E. – Pacoima 

Nancy H. – San Dimas 

Karyme P. – Los Angeles. 

Eric H. – Santa Clarita 

Elyan J. – Paramount 

Keanu L. – Calabasas 

Sean L. – Koreatown 

Mason L. – Montebello 

Grace M. – Panorama City 

Anya M. – Atwater Village 

Aaron M. – La Crescenta  

Cloud C. – Altadena 

Vivían N. – South Los Angeles 

Elara O. – South Bay  

Matthew O. – Los Angeles 

Clara R. – Culver City 

Jose R. – Montebello  

Ella F. – Long Beach  

Jonathan S. – Los Angeles  

Rowan S. – Claremont 

Sidy T. – Inglewood 

Happy W. – Rosemead 

Margaret Y. – Carson 

To learn more about the Youth Council visit: metro.net/youthcouncil 

About Metro 

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is building the most ambitious transportation infrastructure program in the United States and is working to greatly improve mobility through its Vision 2028 Plan. Metro is the lead transportation planning and funding agency for L.A. County and carries 1 million boardings daily on a fleet of 2,200 low-emission buses and six electric rail lines. 

 Stay informed by following Metro on The Source and El Pasajero at metro.net, facebook.com/losangelesmetro, x.com/metrolosangeles and x.com/metroLAalerts and instagram.com/metrolosangeles. 

The post LA Metro Welcomes Fourth Youth Council Cohort   appeared first on LA Metro.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) invites Los Angeles County residents to provide input on the agency’s annual budget and engage with agency leaders during a live, interactive Telephone Town Hall on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 from 6-7 p.m. PT.

As part of Metro’s ongoing Putting People First engagement efforts, the Telephone Town Hall will invite participants to share their comments and feedback on Metro’s initiatives, including public safety, expanding and improving service, and elevating the transit experience. Public participation and feedback are important to ensure that the Fiscal Year 2026 budget reflects the needs and priorities of the public. Metro encourages all Angelenos to participate and offer their input on the work and projects that should be prioritized.

A live, interactive forum, telephone town hall meetings are particularly beneficial for residents who would not typically have time to attend a regular public meeting or who cannot participate online. Metro will randomly contact approximately 100,000 residents from various ethnic and economic backgrounds from across Los Angeles County through an innovative automated telephone system and invite them to participate in the public forum. When residents answer their phones, they will be connected automatically to Metro’s English-language meeting with the option for Spanish-language participants to select Spanish.  This is an open forum and it will be recorded and made available to the public and the news media.

Angelenos can pre-register to be called on the day of the event, submit a written question or comment in advance using the link below.

https://tthm.wufoo.com/forms/metro-telephone-town-hall-signup

Alternately, the public may also join the meeting using the following phone numbers (please only call on the specific date and time of the meeting):

English: On the day and time of the meeting, the toll-free call-in number is 888-400-1932.

Spanish: On the day and time of the meeting, the toll-free call-in number is 888-400-9342.

Those who want to participate via webcast through their computers can do so through one of the following links:

The English webcast audio link is: 

https://janus.teletownhall.us/?id=Metro&eid=111632

The Spanish webcast audio link is: 

https://janus.teletownhall.us/?id=Metro&eid=111633

ADA Language Accommodation: Those requiring an interpreter or other accommodations should contact Metro at least 72 hours prior to the telephone town hall meeting at 323-466-3876 or California Relay Service at 711.

Budget Background

The Metro budget identifies the priorities, programs, and initiatives that the agency will be pursuing in the year ahead. The process begins with Metro’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) forecasting the resources available for the upcoming year. Following the budget forecast, an extensive public outreach and engagement initiative including public hearings, community meetings and listening sessions, as well as an interactive survey is conducted.

Metro’s FY25 Budget was adopted by the Metro Board of Directors at the May 23, 2024 meeting and can be found at https://budget.metro.net.

About Metro

Metro is building the most ambitious transportation infrastructure program in the United States and is working to greatly improve mobility through its Vision 2028 Plan. Metro is the lead transportation planning and funding agency for Los Angeles County and carries over one million boardings daily on a fleet of 2,200 low-emission buses and six rail lines.

Stay informed by following Metro on The Source and El Pasajero at metro.net, facebook.com/losangelesmetro, x.com/metrolosangeles and instagram.com/metrolosangeles.

The post METRO TO HOST TELEPHONE TOWN HALL ONFEBRUARY 4, 2025 TO GET PUBLIC’S FEEDBACK ON FY26 BUDGET appeared first on LA Metro.

In-person meetings will offer a Kids’ Corner with fun activities.

Note: The same information will be presented at each meeting. Free onsite parking and Spanish interpreters will be available.

ADA accommodation and translations are available by calling 213.922.9228 and requesting services at least 72 hours in advance. 

The post In-Person Community Meeting #3: Rail to Rail/River Active Transportation Corridor Project-Segment B appeared first on LA Metro.

Zoom link: bit.ly/R2RSegB
Meeting ID: 848.0760.8256
Call In: 213.338.8477

Número de llamada en español: 872.240.3311
Código de acceso: 917-573-581

Note: The same information will be presented at each meeting.

ADA accommodation and translations are available by calling 213.922.9228 and requesting services at least 72 hours in advance. 

The post Virtual Community Meeting #2: Rail to Rail/River Active Transportation Corridor Project-Segment B appeared first on LA Metro.

In-person meetings will offer a Kids’ Corner with fun activities.

Note: The same information will be presented at each meeting. Free onsite parking and Spanish interpreters will be available.

ADA accommodation and translations are available by calling 213.922.9228 and requesting services at least 72 hours in advance. 

The post In-Person Community Meeting #1: Rail to Rail/River Active Transportation Corridor Project-Segment B appeared first on LA Metro.

Metro is currently planning for housing near both Canoga Station and Balboa Station in the San Fernando Valley and is seeking input from the community on the architectural design, services, community spaces and other project considerations. 

You’re invited to a virtual community meeting to learn about Metro’s future housing sites near Canoga and Balboa Stations. Also, take a brief survey to provide feedback on services and improvements you would like to see at each of the housing sites.  

Canoga Station Survey: Bit.Ly/CanogaSurvey
Balboa Station Survey: Bit.Ly/BalboaSurvey 

Balboa Station Virtual Community Meeting 

Thursday, December 12, 6 pm – 7:30 pm
Zoom link: bit.ly/BalboaMtg
Call-In: 888.788.0099
Webinar ID: 884 1046 0828 

Spanish translation provided. Other ADA accommodations and translation available by calling 213.922.7001 at least 72 hours in advance. 

Learn more at metro.net/jd. 

Contact Us
213.922.7217
jointdevelopment@metro.net
metro.net/jd 

The post Join us for a Virtual Community Meeting as Metro plans for Housing in the Valley appeared first on LA Metro.