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Following months of public engagement, stakeholder outreach and analysis of governance models at peer transit agencies, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Board of Directors today approved steps to strengthen Metro’s governing structure. Because Metro’s governing structure is established in state law, any changes must be enacted by the Legislature.
During the Thursday Board meeting, the Board considered several governance alternatives for transmittal to the Legislature to provide balanced regional representation, strong accountability and effective oversight as Los Angeles County’s governmental structure evolves.
Board members unanimously voted to recommend the Board structure be expanded to include a voting rider representative. The Board’s recommendation also calls for giving the Board of Supervisors the flexibility to designate the elected County Chief Executive Officer (CEO) as one of its five Board members following the 2028 election. Further, once the elected Los Angeles County CEO position is filled as a result of Measure G, the Mayor of Los Angeles will appoint a transit advocate/rider. Once the Board of Supervisors expands to nine members in 2032, the County of Los Angeles will continue to hold five seats on the board, with the County CEO and the Board of Supervisors constituting the pool of officials eligible for appointment. All other appointment authorities would remain unchanged.
The board also asked the Ad Hoc Board Composition Committee to study whether a representative of labor and a small city should be added to the Board. This will include a review of existing city selection procedures to better address regional equity. The Ad Hoc Board Composition Committee is to report its findings in 90-120 days.
“We know that public transit is one of the most powerful tools we have to change and improve people’s lives,” said Metro Chair and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “It is the duty of the LA Metro Board to continue to build out a public transit system that allows Angelenos in every community and people throughout our region to get around without a car. I’m proud that my proposal to reserve one of the City of Los Angeles’ public member seats for a transit advocate/rider was approved by the LA Metro Board today, along with Supervisor Hahn’s amended motion to add an additional voting rider seat. I want to thank all the members of the Ad Hoc Board Composition Committee for their hard work and leadership; we worked together to ensure we will have at least two voting members who are true representatives of the transit rider.”
Measure G, approved by Los Angeles County voters in 2024, expands the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors from five members to nine beginning in 2032 and creates an elected County Chief Executive Officer beginning in 2028. While Measure G does not directly change Metro’s Board, state law requires Metro to submit recommendations to the California Legislature on its Board composition after the Board of Supervisors expands.
To help develop those recommendations, an Ad Hoc Board Composition Committee was established in January. The committee, comprised of Metro Board members and community leaders, reviewed Metro’s governance history, examined governance models at transit agencies across the country and conducted extensive public outreach comprising more than 1,300 engagement touchpoints, including stakeholder meetings, listening sessions, surveys and transit stop outreach to gather feedback from riders and residents throughout Los Angeles County.
“Metro is delivering the largest transit infrastructure program in the nation, and strong governance is fundamental to that mission,” said Metro Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Wiggins. “I appreciate the Board’s careful consideration of this important issue and the extensive public engagement that helped form the committee’s work. Their input has helped shape a recommendation that prepares Metro for the future while maintaining the regional collaboration that has made the agency successful.”
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 six rail lines. The latest April 2026 customer experience survey showed that customer satisfaction has risen to 87 percent.
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