Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
JULY 15, 2026
Subject
SUBJECT: MEASURE M 10-YEAR COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES AND CRITERIA
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
APPROVE objectives and criteria for the Measure M 10-Year Comprehensive Assessment (Attachment A).
Issue
ISSUE
The proposed Assessment objectives and criteria (Attachment A) guide the evaluation of Measure M program performance for the period of July 2023 to June 2037.
Measure M guidelines establish that specific assessment areas and performance criteria will be approved by the Metro Board in consultation with the Measure M Independent Taxpayer Oversight Committee (MMITOC). Staff presented the Assessment objectives and criteria to MMITOC at their regular meeting on June 3, 2026, which are now submitted to the Board for final consideration.
Background
BACKGROUND
The Measure M Ordinance (Attachment B) establishes an ongoing framework for oversight and accountability of projects and programs funded through the Measure M Expenditure Plan. At five-year intervals, Metro prepares a comprehensive assessment of all projects and programs implemented to evaluate overall program performance and identify opportunities to improve coordination, delivery, and effectiveness based on current practices, best practices, and organizational changes.
The first Measure M Five-Year Comprehensive Assessment and Equity Report was completed in 2023 and evaluated the initial five years of Measure M implementation (FY 2018-22). The current Assessment will build upon that effort by incorporating both a retrospective evaluation of Measure M program performance and an assessment of Measure M projects and programs completed or anticipated to be completed over the next ten-year period. Upon completion of the Assessment process, a final report will be presented to the Metro Board for consideration. At that time, if the Assessment is approved by a two-thirds vote, the Board may then consider amendments to the Measure M Ordinance and Expenditure Plan within the parameters established by the Ordinance.
In April 2026, staff reported to the Planning and Programming Committee that work on the Measure M 10-Year Comprehensive Assessment <https://boardagendas.metro.net/board-report/2026-0220/> (Assessment) had commenced and that staff would return to the Board in July 2026 with proposed Assessment objectives and criteria for consideration
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Assessment objectives define and target what is to be evaluated for the Measure M 10-Year period, while the criteria provide the standards by which they will be measured. The process facilitates a transparent and fair evaluation, enables measurement, and ultimately supports the effective and efficient delivery of Measure M projects and programs by identifying successes and areas of improvement to ensure Measure M delivers the commitments made to the voters.
To provide continuity across Metro assessments, staff began with the Board approved assessment objectives and criteria developed for the 2023 Measure M Five-Year Comprehensive Assessment and Equity Report. Modifications were incorporated as necessary to reflect current Metro priorities and the more expansive analysis required in the current Assessment.
The five assessment objectives included in the 2023 Measure M Five-Year Comprehensive Assessment and Equity report are carried over into the Assessment with a minor revision to the first objective to remove the term “Metro”:
• Assess performance on the efficiency and effectiveness in delivering Measure M projects and programs
• Identify and evaluate any potential barriers in delivery of the Expenditure Plan
• Identify and evaluate opportunities for process improvements
• Identify and evaluate best practices to be used going forward
• Identify and evaluate any organizational changes needed to improve coordination
The revision broadens the scope of the assessment to include the performance of Metro as well as Measure M direct recipients and subrecipients.
Assessment evaluation areas have been expanded from five to seven areas, adding Planning and Economic Impact as assessment areas, renaming Program Management to Construction, consolidating Transparency, Accountability, Compliance into a single category, and establishing Equity as a standalone category.
Assessment criteria have been modified to address relevant recommendations and amendments from MMITOC and the Metro Board and to support the specific requirements of this Assessment. These revisions include removing specific dates to keep the criteria general for future assessments, incorporating recommendations from the 2023 Five-Year Comprehensive Assessment and Equity Report, and making the corresponding amendments that accompanied the adoption of that report. The criteria have been sorted into the following seven assessment areas:
• Financial Analysis: To study accounting of revenues and expenditures, whether initial funding assumptions have been achieved and by what ratio, whether pass-through funding to direct recipients and subrecipients is invested in expected locally controlled infrastructure, what the performance outcomes of delivery by pass-through recipients are, and whether operating and maintenance set-aside investments to build capital assets and projects have been sufficient
• Project Delivery: To identify potential project delivery risks, progress of project scopes relative to original projections, and outcomes of projects and programs led by Metro, jurisdictions, or subregions
• Planning: To assess whether/which projects have and/or will boost system-wide connectivity and ridership and whether Measure M is helping to address regional per-capita Vehicle Miles Traveled targets
• Construction: To assess whether the industry maintained sufficient, quality staffing and resources adequate to support project development and implementation of multiple projects within similar time periods
• Economic Impact: To assess whether Measure M projects and programs have contributed to the economy, including but not limited to direct and indirect jobs during and after implementation, and to measure the cost/benefit of expenditure plan projects and programs
• Compliance, Transparency, and Accountability: To demonstrate Metro, direct recipient, and subrecipient compliance with the Ordinance, whether reporting to the MMITOC has been adequate, as well as whether reporting to the Metro Board has been adequate through reports including all items required in the Ordinance
• Equity: To identify whether equity and inclusion objectives have been aligned with other Metro endeavors, and whether Measure M investments have increased Access to Opportunity
Consistent with the Measure M Guidelines, staff presented the Assessment objectives and criteria to the MMITOC at their regular meeting on June 3, 2026. Staff answered questions regarding the Assessment process and analysis. There were no specific recommendations to amend the objectives and criteria resulting from the presentation.
Financial Capacity
The following table compares the estimates of total Measure M revenue in the Expenditure Plan to the forecast prepared in October 2024 for the 2025 Metro Short Range Transportation Plan. Forecasted Measure M sales tax revenue is down $3,400 million (5.3%) during the first 30 years (FY 2018 through FY 2047) and $13,638 million lower (11.2%) over 40 years.
The table above illustrates that there may not be capacity to add Expenditure Plan Major Projects. However, Metro staff are currently updating the Measure M sales tax and Metro comprehensive financial forecast based on an April/May 2026 taxable sales forecast from the UCLA Anderson School of Management, whose forecast has served as the basis for the Measure M sales tax forecast since 2016. The 2026 forecast will be used for the Assessment and outreach to stakeholders regarding potential amendments to the Expenditure Plan. Metro staff also review multiple other forecasts of Los Angeles County sales tax (or proxy statistics), which show different forecasts, some significantly lower than UCLA’s, and this may be included in the Assessment and outreach to stakeholders.
Determination_Of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
There is no safety impact associated with the information contained in this report. This action would establish objectives and criteria to guide the Measure M 10-Year Comprehensive Assessment.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of the Measure M 10-Year Comprehensive Assessment objectives and criteria does not have a direct financial impact on the agency.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
Proposed objectives and criteria for the Measure M 10-Year Comprehensive Assessment will guide a broad analysis of Measure M's impacts through Metro’s Equity Platform framework. Metro serves riders throughout the Los Angeles region. The Assessment will consider impacts of Metro’s investments on the people of Los Angeles County by analyzing demographic disparities in ridership, mobility choices, and investments. Work on the Assessment also includes development of an Access to Opportunity tool that will be utilized to create a deeper understanding of how Measure M investments have shaped access to opportunity in Los Angeles County.
Findings from the Assessment will be shared widely with stakeholders across the region to validate and contextualize the quantitative analyses. Through this engagement process, stakeholders will have the opportunity to provide perspectives on how the findings reflect or differ from their experiences with the Metro system. This input will help ground data in the lived experiences of our riders, to strengthen the overall assessment.
Vehicle_Miles_Traveled _Outcome
VEHICLE MILES TRAVELED OUTCOME
VMT and VMT per capita in Los Angeles County are lower than national averages, the lowest in the SCAG region, and on the lower end of VMT per capita statewide, with these declining VMT trends due in part to Metro’s significant investment in rail and bus transit.* Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets align with California’s statewide climate goals, including achieving carbon neutrality by 2045. To ensure continued progress, all Board items are assessed for their potential impact on VMT.
As part of these ongoing efforts, this item is expected to contribute to further reductions in VMT. This item supports Metro’s systemwide strategy to reduce VMT through comprehensive planning activities that will benefit and further encourage transit ridership, ridesharing, and active transportation. This aligns with Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets, which build on the success of existing investments.
*Based on population estimates from the United States Census and VMT estimates from Caltrans’ Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data between 2001-2019.
Implementation_of_Strategic_Plan_Goals
IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC PLAN GOALS
The Assessment supports Strategic Plan Goal #5, which seeks to “Provide responsive, accountable, and trustworthy governance within Metro.” The Assessment will provide transparency and accountability in the delivery of the Measure M program and seek to ensure its effective delivery over the next decade.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The Board may choose not to proceed with the recommended objectives and criteria; however, the proposed assessment criteria maintain continuity with the prior Board-approved assessment framework, reflect consultation with the MMITOC, and benchmark against how other transit agencies measure assessment best practices.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Staff will continue developing the Assessment in coordination with Metro departments. This work will include refining the project and program evaluation framework, preparing an updated Measure M financial capacity analysis, coordinating agencywide needs across departments, and conducting extensive data collection to inform the assessment.
Upon approval of the objectives and criteria, staff will begin stakeholder outreach and engagement to support further development and refinement of the Assessment.
Staff will return to the Board in fall 2026 with a capital project evaluation framework, metrics and weighting. In March 2027 staff will present to the Board a discussion draft of the comprehensive assessment, including recommended amendments to the Measure M ordinance. Based on feedback received, staff will revise and present the final Assessment and amendments to MMITOC for comment on the Assessment and make requisite findings on amendments in July 2027. The final Assessment and amendments will be presented for Board consideration in September 2027.
Upon completion of the Assessment process, a final report will be presented to the Metro Board for consideration. At that time, if the Assessment is approved by a two-thirds vote, the Board may then consider amendments to the Measure M Ordinance and Expenditure Plan within the parameters established by the Ordinance.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Proposed Assessment Objectives and Criteria
Attachment B - Measure M Ordinance and Expenditure Plan
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Paul Backstrom, Senior Director, Countywide Planning and Development, (213) 922-2183
Rena Lum, Deputy Executive Officer, Countywide Planning and Development, (213) 922-6963
Michael Cano, Executive Officer, Countywide Planning and Development, (213) 418-3010
Craig Hoshijima, Executive Officer, Countywide Planning and Development, (213) 547-4290
Laurie Lombardi, Senior Executive Officer, Countywide Planning and Development, (213) 418-3251
Avital Barnea, Senior Executive Officer, Countywide Planning and Development, (213) 547-4317
Kimberly Houston, Deputy Chief Auditor, (213) 922-4720
Tim Mengle, Executive Officer, Finance (213) 922-7665
Nicole Ferrara, Deputy Chief Planning Officer, (213) 547-4322
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Ray Sosa, Chief Planning Officer, (213) 547-4274
Sharon Gookin, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, (213) 418-3101
