Meeting_Body
OPERATIONS, SAFETY, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
JUNE 18, 2025
Subject
SUBJECT: METRO RESPONSE TO EATON AND PACIFIC PALISADES WILDFIRES
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE ORAL REPORT
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE oral report on the status of the Metro Response to Eaton and Pacific Palisades Wildfires.
Issue
ISSUE
On the evening of Tuesday, January 7, 2025, wildfires, propelled by hurricane-force winds, low humidity and dry bush, burned through multiple communities in Los Angeles County. The Palisades fire, which had started that morning, would go on to burn through more than 23,000 acres. The Eaton fire that tore through Altadena ravaged more than 14,000 acres.
Metro’s role in ensuring its customers have access to transportation options during and after this crisis were critical to individuals and families, displaced by the wildfires. Metro’s wildfire response also included financial assistance and access to resources for Metro employees who have been displaced and will need significant support to rebuild their homes and lives as they recover.
On January 23, 2025, the Board passed Motion # by Directors Hahn, Barger, Horvath, Solis, Dutra and Bass (Attachment A) which required staff to report back on recommendations to address the Eaton and Pacific Palisades Wildfire Recovery. This report is the interim progress report in response to the motion.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
This multi-department report includes an assessment of Customer Experience, Talent Development, and Real Estate’s response to the Eaton and Pacific Palisades Wildfires. The report aligns with Metro’s Equity Platform Framework, Pillar 3 “Focus and Deliver”, by removing barriers and increasing access to opportunity for all.
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.
*Based on population estimates from the United States Census and VMT estimates from Caltrans’ Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) data between 2001-2019.
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 investment, operational and customer experience activities that will benefit and further encourage transit ridership, ridesharing, and active transportation. Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets were designed to build on the success of existing investments, and this item aligns with those objectives.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Motion Response to Eaton & Pacific Palisades Wildfires
Prepared_by
Prepared by:
Monica Bouldin, Deputy Chief Customer Experience, (213) 922-4081
Miguel Cabral, Senior Executive Officer, Special Programs (213) 922-4245
Holly Rockwell, Senior Executive Officer, Real Estate, Transit Oriented Communities and Transportation Demand Management, (213) 547-4325
Devon Deming, Deputy Executive Officer, Fare Programs, (213) 922-7957
Michael Cortez, Director LIFE Program, Fare Programs, (213) 418-3423
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Jennifer Vides, Chief Customer Experience, (213) 922-4060
Dawn Jackson-Perkins, Chief People Officer, (213) 418-3166
