Meeting_Body
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
JULY 23, 2026
Preamble
Motion by:
DIRECTORS BASS, NAJARIAN, BARGER, AND DUPONT-WALKER
Inclusion of Two Voting Transit Rider/Advocates on the Metro Board and Maintaining Regional Equity and Intergovernmental Balance
The Ad Hoc Board Composition Committee (Committee) was established in February 2026 to evaluate Metro’s governance framework, with Measure G in mind, which expands the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (BOS) from five to nine members in 2032, elects a CEO in 2028, and introduces other County governance reforms. The voting membership of Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Board of Directors (Board) established by State statute, includes the five members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, three additional representatives appointed by the Mayor of Los Angeles, and four representatives selected through the City Selection Committee process representing four quadrants of the County of Los Angeles a) Arroyo Verdugo, Las Virgenes - Malibu, San Fernando and North County; b) San Gabriel Valley; c) Gateway Cities; d) Westside, South Bay Cities. In addition, the Board includes one non-voting member appointed by the Governor of California. It is the Board’s responsibility to evaluate and make recommendations to the State on Board composition when the number of seats on the BOS changes.
On June 29, 2026, the Committee received staff’s report on Metro Board Member Composition and Appointment Structure prepared in response to Measure G and the Committee’s broader governance review. That report confirmed that the single most consistent finding across Metro’s four-month countywide outreach effort, comprising more than 1,300 engagement touch points and approximately 900 survey responses, was a desire for the Metro Board to include members who understand the day-to-day experience of riding Metro and are transit advocates. In other words, the overwhelming response was to have a transit rider/advocate sit on the board. Additionally, a nationwide review of transit agencies found that other major transit agencies currently include rider representation on their governing boards, demonstrating that having a seat at the table is feasible.
Staff developed several Board composition alternatives for the Committee’s consideration. In developing and evaluating these alternatives, staff thoroughly reviewed community outreach findings, examined the practices of peer agencies, and considered the need to maintain intergovernmental balance and regional equity.
The most pressing finding was the need for greater representation from the transit rider/advocate community. Having rider/advocate representation on the Board is the most direct way to act on that finding.
Additionally, having a stronger advisory committee framework complements the addition of a voting rider seat. Metro currently maintains a network of advisory bodies that provide structured channels for riders, stakeholders, and community input into agency planning, programs, and policy, including the five regional Service Councils, the Community Advisory Council (CAC), the Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC), and other advisory bodies. Collectively, these bodies are well-positioned to contribute to and evaluate the lived experiences of riders and communities across Los Angeles County. Opportunities may exist to strengthen how their input informs Board deliberations.
Subject
SUBJECT: INCLUSION OF TWO VOTING TRANSIT RIDER/ADVOCATES ON THE METRO BOARD AND MAINTAINING REGIONAL EQUITY AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL BALANCE MOTION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
APPROVE Motion by Bass, Najarian, Barger, and Dupont-Walker that the Board adopt the following amended alternative:
Amend Alternative D as follows:
A. Once the elected Los Angeles County CEO position is seated through Measure G, the BOS would have the flexibility to designate the CEO as one of its five Board members and establish the structure for appointing the five seats;
B. Beginning in 2032, when the BOS expands to nine members, the County of Los Angeles shall continue to hold no more than five seats on the Metro Board. The nine members of the BOS and the elected County CEO shall constitute the pool of County officials eligible for appointment to those five seats; and
C. Once the elected Los Angeles County CEO position is seated as a result of Measure G:
1. The Mayor of Los Angeles would make one of their public appointees a transit advocate/rider;
2. A voting Rider Representative will be added to the Metro Board; and
3. All other appointment authorities would remain consistent with current statutory requirements, except for changes resulting from the above items.
WE FURTHER MOVE THAT THE BOARD DIRECT THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER TO:
D. Evaluate Metro’s existing advisory committee structure, including, but not limited to, the Service Councils, Community Advisory Council (CAC), Public Safety Advisory Committee (PSAC), and other standing advisory bodies, to strengthen rider and customer representation, improve coordination and accountability, and enhance the integration of advisory committee input into Board decision-making; and
E. Return to the Board within 90 days with a report on the items directed above including a framework on the eligibility and process to select the rider representative.