Statement by Metro Board Chairman John Fasana
Re: Bus Consent Decree

March 18, 2002

Metro is disappointed that the United States Supreme Court has opted not to review the federal Consent Decree to improve Metro Bus service in Los Angeles County.  While underscoring that Metro will continue to comply with the Consent Decree, the Metro Board felt it was important for the court to clarify how compliance should be measured. Equally important was to define what authority the federal court and the special master, who oversees compliance, has in deciding how Metro should comply if violations occur.

Metro remains optimistic that differences in tracking violations and measuring compliance of the Consent Decree can be resolved. Metro is committed to complying with the decree and will continue our efforts to improve the Metro Bus system.

In the past five years Metro has purchased and taken delivery of nearly 2,000 new compressed natural gas buses. Many of these were used to replace aging diesel buses but the agency has added almost 500 peak hour buses into service to reduce overcrowding and to expand service.

The Metro is expanding its popular Metro Rapid Bus lines, is planning new busways, and, starting this summer, will decentralize bus operations to be more responsive to local communities as part of an ongoing effort to improve Metro Bus service.