Metro - File #: 2023-0472

• File #: 2023-0472
• Type: Program
• Status: Passed
• File created: 7/19/2023
• In control: Planning and Programming Committee
• On agenda: 9/20/2023
• Final action: 9/28/2023
• Title: CONSIDER: A. APPROVING the reprogramming of $1,682,842 unspent operating budget from FY23 to the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) for the FY24 Metrolink Antelope Valley Line (AVL) service restoration (Option 3), to start on October 23, 2023; and B. AUTHORIZING the Chief Executive Officer to negotiate and execute all necessary agreements between Metro and SCRRA for the approved funding.
• Sponsors: Program Management (Department), Maria Luk
• Indexes: Automatic vehicle location, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Dedicated Service, Equity Focus Communities, Grant Aid, Hourly, Joint Powers Agreement, Lancaster, Los Angeles Union Station, Metro Equity Platform, Metro Rail A Line, Metrolink, Metrolink Antelope Valley Line, Metrolink San Bernardino Line, North Los Angeles County subregion, Program, Project, Railroad commuter service, Ridership, San Fernando Valley subregion, Santa Clarita, Security, Strategic planning, Subsidies, Travel patterns
• Related files: 2023-0628

Date	Action By	Action	Result
9/28/2023	Board of Directors - Regular Board Meeting

Meeting_Body
PLANNING AND PROGRAMMING COMMITTEE
SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

Subject
SUBJECT: METROLINK ANTELOPE VALLEY LINE

Action
ACTION: PROGRAM FUNDS FOR WEEKDAY SERVICE RESTORATION AND ADDITIONAL WEEKEND SERVICE

Heading
RECOMMENDATION

Title
CONSIDER:

A. APPROVING the reprogramming of $1,682,842 unspent operating budget from FY23 to the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) for the FY24 Metrolink Antelope Valley Line (AVL) service restoration (Option 3), to start on October 23, 2023; and

B. AUTHORIZING the Chief Executive Officer to negotiate and execute all necessary agreements between Metro and SCRRA for the approved funding.

Issue
ISSUE

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted ridership on the Metrolink Antelope Valley Line (AVL), resulting in service reduction. As ridership continues to rebound on the AVL, SCRRA staff are evaluating the restoration of service to pre-pandemic levels plus additional AVL service on weekdays and weekends. To accomplish this goal, SCRRA staff propose an AVL Service Restoration Project with several options for Metro's consideration to increase ridership, serve new ridership markets, and address equity needs for the Antelope Valley communities.

Background
BACKGROUND

Metro is a member of the SCRRA, a five-county Joint Powers Authority (JPA) that operates the Metrolink regional commuter rail service (see Attachment A). The AVL historically has been the third busiest line on the Metrolink system, averaging 7,000 riders per weekday pre-pandemic. As a result of the pandemic, ridership dropped precipitously, resulting in the reduction of service from 15 weekday round trips to 11 presently. Ridership is recovering gradually, now averaging 3,000 riders per weekday, an improvement of 220% from April 2020.

The AVL provides a critical lifeline service to residents of the Antelope Valley and Santa Clarita regions. Many Antelope Valley residents live and work in Equity Focus Communities and have lower income and ...