LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn pledges to keep LA Metro safe as she takes over as board chair

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn on Wednesday pledged to improve public safety and the rider experience on LA Metro's system as she takes over as board chair from L.A. Mayor Karen Bass.

During her Metro State of the Agency address, Hahn said her top priorities also included a strong labor force and adding more bus shelters.

Hahn also vowed to make it a point to ride the metro system more while she is chair, saying she’ll use those trips to inform her new role. “That will mean calling out problems I see, as well as praising the things that go right,” she said.

Hahn is leading the Metro board at a time of increased violent crimes against riders and operators despite a reported decrease in overall crimes.

A new approach to public safety

In response to a series of violent incidents this year, Bass ordered a surge of law enforcement throughout the system. That order highlighted several cracks in the agency’s current safety strategy and motivated the board to greenlight different safety measures, including the placement of  plexiglass shields for bus operators and the creation of a unified command force.

One of the biggest moves made by the board this past year was the decision to establish a public safety department that would create an in-house police force and increase the number of care-based workers.

Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said that though she was grateful for Los Angeles and Long Beach police, as well as the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, it was time to change course.

“Our region is contending with historic levels of homelessness, untreated mental illness and addiction. These issues lie at the core of our public safety challenges and we must address them compassionately and effectively,” Wiggins said.

Hahn stressed that this new model “isn’t a guaranteed success” and that the focus needs to be “the safety of our riders right now,” advocating instead for more law enforcement partners on platforms, trains, and buses.

Metro addresses homelessness

During Bass’ tenure as chair, Metro ramped up its homeless outreach services.

Early last year, Metro audited their property holdings to identify locations that could be used for housing for the unhoused. During Wednesday’s address, Bass highlighted the creation of La Veranda, a mixed-use affordable housing project on Metro property in Boyle Heights. The building includes designated rooms for unhoused metro riders.

And with an increase of homeless outreach services aboard the system, Bass said Metro has moved 2,000 people off the streets.

Looking ahead

All eyes are on Los Angeles as it’s set to host the World Cup in 2026, the Super Bowl in 2027 and the Olympic and Paralympic games in 2028.

“We know when LA hosts the Olympics in 2028 Metro will show the world how we can move millions of fans and local residents alike in a clean, convenient and truly exemplary fashion,” Bass said.