Meeting_Body
OPERATIONS, SAFETY, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
OCTOBER 15, 2026
Subject
SUBJECT: APPOINTMENT TO METRO WESTSIDE CENTRAL SERVICE COUNCIL
Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION
Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
APPROVE nominee for membership on Metro’s Westside Central Service Council (Attachment A).
Issue
ISSUE
There is currently one vacancy on the Westside Central Service Council.
Background
BACKGROUND
Metro Service Councils (MSCs) were created in 2002 as community-based bodies that improve bus service and promote service coordination with municipal and local transit providers. The MSC bylaws specify that representatives who live, work, or represent the region should have a basic working knowledge of public transit service within their area and understand passenger transit needs. To do so, each Representative is expected to ride at least one transit service per month.
The MSCs are responsible for convening public hearings to receive community input on proposed service modifications, rendering decisions for proposed bus route changes, and considering staff recommendations/public comments. All route and major service changes approved by the MSCs will be brought to the Metro Board of Directors as an information item. If the Metro Board moves an MSC-approved service change to an action item, the MSCs will be notified of this change before the next Service Council monthly meeting.
Discussion
DISCUSSION
The individual listed below has been nominated by the nominating authority for this Council seat. If approved by the Board, they will serve for the three-year term specified below. A brief listing of qualifications for the new nominee and the nomination letter are provided in Attachments A and B. Membership of the Council with this appointee compared to the regions’ demographics and ridership are provided in Attachment C.
Westside Central Service Council
A. Ryan Hund, New Appointment
Nominated by: Westside Central Council of Governments
Term: July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2027
Determination_of_Safety_Impact
DETERMINATION OF SAFETY IMPACT
Maintaining a fully appointed Service Council of representatives for each service area is important, as each Representative is required to regularly use public transit, and each Council is composed of people from diverse areas and backgrounds. This enables each Council to better understand the needs of transit riders, including the need for safe operation of transit service and the safe location of bus stops.
Financial_Impact
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approving the recommended action brings no financial impact to the agency. Service Council members receive a $150 stipend per meeting, with a limit of two paid meetings each month, under Cost Center 3151, Project 306006, Systemwide Bus Operations Management and Administration.
Impact to Budget
The current source of funds for this action includes operating eligible funds, including Propositions A and C, Measures R and M sales tax revenues, and the Transportation Development Act.
Equity_Platform
EQUITY PLATFORM
To further encourage nominating authorities to nominate individuals who closely reflect the region and its ridership, Metro staff shares Service Council membership race/ethnicity and gender demographic makeup compared to that of the residents with each nomination request. See Attachment C for details. This practice resulted in greater diversity of race/ethnicity and gender over the last several years of the Service Councils. However, approximately half of LA County residents and Metro riders are women, and work is still required to achieve gender equity in some of the Service Councils. Staff will continue to share demographic information and encourage nominating authorities to consider gender equity when considering individuals for nomination.
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 operational activities that will improve 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.
*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
Approval of this recommendation supports the following Metro Strategic Plan Goal: 30 Enhance communities and lives through mobility and access to opportunity.
Alternatives_Considered
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
The alternative to the recommendation would be for this nominee not to be approved for appointment. This would reduce the effectiveness of the Service Council, as it would increase the challenge of obtaining a necessary quorum for this Service Council to formulate and submit recommendations to the Board. It would also result in this Service Council having a less diverse representation of their service areas.
Next_Steps
NEXT STEPS
Staff will continue to monitor the major contributors to the quality of bus service from the customer’s perspective and share that information with the Service Councils for use in their work to plan, implement, and improve bus service as well as the customer experience in their areas.
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - New Appointee Nomination Letter
Attachment B - New Appointee Biography and Qualification
Attachment C - Service Council Demographic Information
Prepared_by
Prepared by:
Dolores Ramos, Senior Manager, Regional Service Councils, (213) 922- 1210
Reviewed_By
Reviewed by:
Conan Cheung, Chief Operations Officer, (213) 418-3034
