About

 Metro (the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority) is the largest public transit operator west of Chicago.  As the principal transit provider in the southern California region, Metro serves about 75% of all transit trips within its 1,440 square mile service area, carrying approximately 900,000 passengers per day on buses and nearly 360,000 passengers on rail.  Metro operates four light rail lines and two heavy rail lines.  Metro also provides funding to 40 other municipal operators that offer fixed route service.  Metro also provides highway construction funding and traffic flow management.

Metro is unique among the nation’s transportation agencies. We serve as transportation planner and coordinator, designer,  builder and operator for Los Angeles County, the country’s largest by population.

Metro issues long-term debt primarily to finance a portion of the capital costs of the County transportation system.  The majority of Metro’s long-term debt has been issued to fund the costs of the light and heavy rail lines, including system construction costs, as well as highway construction costs. Debt is secured primarily by three of its sales taxes (Proposition A, Proposition C and Measure R). Currently, there is no long-term debt secured by the fourth sales tax, Measure M. Each of the four sales taxes are currently one-half of 1 percent.

Metro’s Vision 2028 Plan outlines five goals:

1. Provide high-quality mobility options that enable people to spend less time traveling;
2. Deliver outstanding trip experiences for all users of the transportation system;
3. Enhance communities and lives through mobility and access to opportunity;
4. Transform LA County through regional collaboration and national leadership; and
5. Provide responsive, accountable, and trustworthy governance within the Metro organization.