Responding to ongoing worries regarding the safety of both passengers and bus operators on Metro, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed a motion on Friday aimed at enhancing safety protocols within the transit system.
The motion, approved with a 10-0 vote, directs the Los Angeles Police Department and Metro officials to provide a comprehensive report to the Public Safety Committee. This report will encompass data spanning from 2017 to 2024, detailing statistics related to the agency’s trains, buses, platforms, and stations. Additionally, it will include a breakdown of victim demographics. Notably, Council members Kevin de León, Imelda Padilla, Nithya Raman, Heather Hutt, and Hugo Soto-Martinez were not present during the vote.
Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, who introduced the motion, expressed her deep concern over unresolved safety issues prior to the vote. She emphasized the tragic case of Mirna Soza Arauz, a 66-year-old woman fatally stabbed on Metro’s B (Red) Line in the San Fernando Valley on April 22, underscoring the failure of the system to ensure her safety.
As Mother’s Day approached, Rodriguez lamented Arauz’s absence from the celebration, attributing her death to the system’s failure. She criticized the disparity between the city’s efforts to protect wildlife and its shortcomings in safeguarding its citizens, particularly those reliant on public transportation for their livelihoods.
Council members John Lee and Traci Park echoed Rodriguez’s sentiments, highlighting the importance of addressing safety concerns, especially with the upcoming 2028 Olympics in the city. Lee emphasized the necessity of instilling confidence in the public regarding the use of the transportation system.
In response to Arauz’s tragic death and escalating safety concerns, Metro’s Board of Directors took swift action, approving an emergency procurement of Plexiglas barriers for approximately 2,000 buses. The installation of these barriers is now slated for completion by the end of 2024, expediting the process from the initial timeline of three years. Additionally, discussions were sparked within the agency regarding further measures to enhance public safety.
LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger introduced a motion to the Board of Directors, advocating for enhanced security measures, including the securing of station entrances and exits and the acceleration of pilot solutions at high-risk stations. The board also proposed augmenting security cameras, exploring facial recognition technology, and considering measures to ban problematic individuals from using Metro services.
Mayor Karen Bass chairs the board, with LA City Council President Paul Krekorian and Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky among its members, collectively working towards bolstering safety across the Metro system.
