Meeting_Body
OPERATIONS, SAFETY, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
JULY 17, 2025
Subject
SUBJECT: STATUS REPORT: METRO’S RESPONSE TO EATON & PACIFIC PALISADES WILDFIRES
Action
ACTION: RECEIVE AND FILE
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
RECEIVE AND FILE status report on Metro’s Response to Eaton & Pacific Palisades Wildfires.
Issue
ISSUE
At its January 2025 meeting, the Board passed Motion #36 by Directors Hahn, Barger, Horvath, Solis, Dutra and Bass (Attachment A) which directed the CEO to modify the eligibility criteria of all reduced fare programs to include individuals and families displaced by the wildfires for six months, with an option to extend the program as needed and report back to the board in June 2025 on the outcomes and impacts of this effort.
Staff immediately implemented the Wildfire Recovery modified LIFE enrollment. Riders participating in this program received a free 30-ride pass good on Metro, a free 90-day pass good on all LIFE participating transit agencies, and three months of 20-free-ride passes under the LIFE Program, regardless of income. The benefits allocated during this initial period expire six months after the individual’s enrollment in the program.
On June 18, 2025, staff provided an oral report to the Board on the preliminary outcomes and impacts to riders and Metro employees affected by the wildfires. The next steps reported to the Board in June included staff conducting a financial analysis on the possibility of extending the program beyond the initial 6-month period, which ends on July 23, 2025.
Background
BACKGROUND
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, reducing much of a vibrant community to ash, and killing at least eight people. The Eaton fire, which started later that same day in Altadena, ravaged more than 14,000 acres, destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, and had 17 confirmed deaths.
Metro’s role in ensuring its customers have access to transportation options during and after this crisis was 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 were displaced and will need significant support to rebuild their homes and lives as they recover.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
Analysis of Wildfire Recovery Relief Program
In analyzing the Wildfire Recovery modified LIFE enrollment program, the data indicates a downward trend in enrollment through the initial six months of the program. Based on enrollment from January through June 2025, 69% of the Wildfire LIFE enrollees live in the affected areas, whereas 31% are either unhoused, unidentified, or have their place of work in the area. (see Figure 1 below):
Figure 1:
Of the 6,312 enrollees in the Wildfire Recovery program, 42% (2,626) actively used their passes from January through June 2025. Comparatively during this same time period, the general LIFE Program had a 37% (128,114) utilization rate from active riders (the wildfire recovery data does not include LIFE Limited participants,) which is why it indicates a minimally higher utilization rate compared to general LIFE Program usage. (see Figure 2 below)
Figure 2:
Additionally, from January through June 2025, 68% of the active enrollees (2,626) boarded 1-20 times per month, with 32% active enrollees riding more than 21 times per month. (see Figure 3 below):
Figure 3:
Based on the boarding data collected, participants boarded 187,907 times on bus/rail. The estimated costs for this program from January through June 2025 totals $328,837. (see Figure 4 below):
Figure 4:
Some Wildfire Recovery participants may qualify for one or more Metro programs offered to transit dependent communities. As the program ends, staff will register existing enrolled participants, if they qualify, into other subsidized Metro fare programs:
• Low-Income Fare is Easy (LIFE) Program - Provides 20 free rides per month on participating transit agencies for low-income and unhoused riders
• GoPass - Provides free transit for K-12 and Community College students in participating school districts, including Santa Monica Malibu Unified and Pasadena Unified School Districts in the affected areas
• U-Pass - Provides free or reduced-cost transit for students at participating 4-year colleges and universities, including UCLA and Pasadena City College
• E-Pass - Providing free transit for employees of participating employers
Alternatives
The Board could decide to extend the modified program through December 2025. Metro will then seek a Title VI waiver from the FTA to allow Metro to continue offering benefits to residents impacted by the wildfires. The estimated cost through December 2025 is $380,191.
Fare Equity Analysis
The extension of a modified LIFE Program beyond the current six-month period would require that a Fare Equity Analysis be conducted by Metro’s Office of Civil Rights, Racial Equity and Inclusion. Per Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Circular 4702.1B, which states that “If a promotional or temporary fare reduction lasts longer than six months, then FTA considers the fare reduction permanent, and the transit provider must conduct a fare equity analysis.”
This analysis, which could take between six to twelve months to complete, would compare the percentages of minority and low-income Wildfire Recovery participants against the total minority and low-income percentages for all Metro riders. For a favorable outcome, these percentages in the Wildfire Recovery program would need to be equal or greater to the percentages for all Metro riders.
Because the LIFE income requirement was waived for Wildfire enrollees, this data was not initially collected, and a separate survey would need to be conducted to obtain it.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
Metro’s response to the Wildfires of Eaton and Pacific Palisades through the modified LIFE program, provided immediate transportation relief to individuals thrust into financial hardships, experiencing homelessness, health disparities, loss of employment and long-lasting impacts from this heartbreaking environmental disaster in these communities. This modified program also aligned with Metro’s Equity Platform Framework, Pillar 3 “Focus and Deliver”, by removing barriers and increasing access to opportunity for all. Metro also recognizes that residents from these communities may continue to experience financial hardships and will work to partner with community-based organizations, faith-based institutions, senior facilities, schools, health care institutions to help promote, and enroll people into Metro’s discounted fare transit programs.
Discounted fare transit programs, like LIFE, are Metro’s investment in social mobility and an important tool to assist in the fight against income and health inequality. These programs, which include enrollments, outreach, partnerships with Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), and taxi vouchers for individuals with short-term/immediate transit needs, make Metro more accessible to riders facing financial and other barriers, while providing financial relief from the ever-rising cost of living.
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.
The Wildfire Recovery modified LIFE program has increased VMT savings for participants utilizing the free transit passes. As part of this ongoing effort, this item is expected to contribute to further reductions in VMT. This item supports Metro’s systemwide strategy to reduce VMT through investment activities that will improve/benefit and further encourage transit ridership. Metro’s Board-adopted VMT reduction targets were designed to build on the success of existing investments, and this item aligns with those objectives.
*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
These programs support Metro’s Strategic Plan Goal 3) Enhance communities and lives through mobility and access to opportunity, and Goal 4) Transform LA County through collaboration and leadership. Metro will continue to work toward providing accessible and inclusive services for the residents of Los Angeles County.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
The LIFE Program will work on ensuring that all enrollees who signed up for the modified program are informed how to remain in the LIFE program, if they qualify, as well as sharing information on additional subsidized programs Metro offers. Staff will also continue to conduct outreach and partner with agencies and organizations to enroll eligible participants into the LIFE program.
Attachment
ATTACHMENT
Attachment A - Motion #36
Prepared_by
Prepared by: Monica Bouldin, Deputy Chief Customer Experience, (213) 922-4081
Devon Deming, Deputy Executive Officer, Fare Programs, (213) 922-7957
Michael Cortez, Director LIFE Program, Fare Programs, (213) 418-3423
Hayarpi Tosunyan, Senior Director Finance, Office of Management and Budget
Juan Miranda, Manager, Transportation Planning, Local Programming (213) 922-2824
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by: Jennifer Vides, Chief Customer Experience Officer, (213) 922-4060
