June 16, 2010

Subject: Message Regarding Upcoming Metro Service Changes from COO Lonnie Mitchell

Dear Transportation Staff:

In an effort to better serve the needs of our customers, Metro makes adjustments to our bus and rail service twice each year. The next round of service changes is scheduled to go into effect beginning June 27, 2010 or later. These modifications include some route extensions and modifications, efficiency improvements on major streets, and the introduction of new Metro Rapid Line 733, which will operate on Venice Boulevard connecting Santa Monica and downtown Los Angeles.

For details about all of the June 2010 service changes, please click here… http://www.metro.net/around/service-enhancements/.

I would also like to inform you that we will be implementing a fare increase on July 1, 2010. This increase was approved by the Metro Board in 2007 as part of a two-step fare restructuring.  This second part of that increase was originally scheduled to be implemented last year but was delayed for one year as part of the passage of Measure R.  Measure R also mandated a 5-year freeze in fares for seniors, students, Medicare recipients and disabled riders.  Those fares, utilized by more than half of our riders, will remain unchanged until 2013. For a complete list of the revised Metro fares, please click here… http://www.metro.net/around/fares/.

We are informing the public about these upcoming changes in a number of ways: distributing “take one” notices on all buses and trains, issuing broad media notification throughout the region and posting information on Metro’s main web page. We are also sending e-mails to our various transit partners throughout the county, including the offices of all elected officials, affected cities and agency staff, municipal and local transit providers and other key stakeholders.

If you have any questions or would like additional information about these upcoming changes, please contact Helen Valenzuela, Metro Government Relations at 213.922.7175 or via email at valenzuelah@metro.net.

Thank you for your support and partnership in delivering improved transportation alternatives throughout Los Angeles County.

Sincerely,

Lonnie Mitchell
Chief Operations Officer