By Mariana Paredes-Luna, Assistant Director of Organizing and Advocacy
July 22, 2026
The LA Metro board is the policy and decision making body for L.A. county’s massive public transportation system. Yet its members are not regular transit riders, nor do any of them depend on public transportation for their daily commutes.
But this month’s Metro board meeting may change that!
On July 23, the LA Metro board hopes to address this lack of rider representation by voting on a motion, introduced by L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, to add a dedicated seat for a regular transit rider. This would ensure the everyday experiences of riders are reflected at the highest levels of decision making at the agency.
Currently, the Metro board has 14 voting members: five L.A. County Supervisors, L.A. City Mayor Karen Bass, three mayoral appointees, four L.A. county representatives, and one non-voting appointee from the governor’s office. This board composition is not representative of the people who depend on Metro for mobility. Eighty-nine percent of bus riders and 72% of rail riders earn a household income of less than $50,000.
As a longtime SAJE member and everyday transit rider Mireya Aguilar shared, “The expansion of the Metro board is long overdue. The majority of Metro’s board members have no idea what it means to depend on public transit to live. I support adding a transit rider representative to the board as the bare minimum. But I also believe each board member should have their own dedicated rider representative who can provide insight on the concerns of each region.”
The rider perspective is crucial to understanding problems before we talk about solutions. Everyday transit riders can provide firsthand accounts about the condition and effectiveness of the Metro system, such as the lack of service on specific lines or safety concerns in certain areas. Riders can also speak directly about the improvements that would make their experience better, such as more frequent maintenance, better bus shelters, and improved wait times.
But adding a transit rider to the board comes with its own complexities, including determining a framework for the eligibility and a process for selection. The Metro board must also ensure the rider representative has the necessary tools and resources to fulfill this huge responsibility.
SAJE strongly believes the Metro board’s decisions must be informed by riders themselves, who can speak most directly to the challenges and needs on our systems. Join us in supporting a yes vote to expand the board by making your voice heard at this month’s LA Metro board meeting on July 23 at 10am. Click here to learn how!
