Safety on LA Metro Public Transportation: Metro Ambassadors

The LA Metro is the main form of public transportation in its county. Consisting of 117 bus routes and six rail lines, the LA Metro has an average daily boardings of 950,000. However, many safety concerns discourage residents from traveling within its systems. The recent launch of the Metro Ambassador Program may help shape the city's daily commute.

 

The Issue: Crimes on the LA Metro

Throughout the years, there has been a significant increase in crimes on the public transportation systems in Los Angeles. Many of these incidents come in forms of aggression, such as hate crimes and physical or sexual assault. Other crimes of lesser severity include fare evasion and soliciting. Despite the city's efforts to make train and bus platforms safer, such as the Westlake/MacArthur Park station's blaring classical music, incidents continued to occur daily. The tarnished reputation of the LA Metro has these factors that prevent more traction in the area. How can LA Metro systems feel safer and improve ridership?

The Solution: The Metro Ambassador Program

The Metro Ambassador Program is a newly launched program to promote the usage of public transit, as well as to improve public safety. The idea for the program began around 2020 and officially began in 2021. The program opened on March 6, 2023, starting small with an initial number of 60 Ambassadors and now around 300. Metro Ambassadors can be found on train or bus platforms or inside the trains and buses themselves. Further responsibilities they carry out include proper fare inspections, preventing and reporting incidents, and taking feedback from passengers to improve the Metro systems overall. 

The main initiative for opening the program is in response to the death of George Floyd back in 2020. With the concern for the public safety of those affected by targeted hate crimes on the Metro, the LA Metro's CEO, Stephanie Wiggins, believed that decreasing police presence on public transportation may lessen aggravations. While not many agree with this approach, the changes are noticeable. 

Many transit users have reported feeling a sense of safety using the LA Metro with a Metro Ambassador's presence rather than a police officer's. Tourists have also found them accommodating when they need help navigating the area. The number of crimes reported has decreased because of their prominent presence in Metro stations.

However, there is still room for improvement. Some riders complain that a few of the Metro Ambassadors need more professionalism, as most of them appear to be of a younger age range. The lack of arms also raises a concern for more vital security against threats. Unquestionably, the Metro Ambassador Program has much to learn, but it could potentially improve the welfare of LA Metro commuters.

Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins announced the launch of the Metro Ambassador Program on March 6, 2023, in Union Station.

Why this matters

As a commuter, I rely on the Metro daily for school and work. I have personally been a victim of aggression while using trains and buses. However, seeing the faces of the Metro Ambassadors has given me a better conscience as I commute. Although they can't be a replacement for police officers on the Metro, I believe that they are worth investing in. I am immensely passionate about advocating for better public transportation in our city and seeing the Metro Ambassadors provide their services to the community has heightened my ambitions even more. There has been an increase in LA Metro ridership thanks to them -- people who have never used the Metro before can now have the confidence to do so. With the rise in Metro services such as the new Little Tokyo train station and D line extension, Los Angeles public transportation has the potential to thrive indubitably.

Interviews from the Community

Question: How do you feel about the Metro Ambassador Program? Do you feel safer using Metro services with their presence?

Xero Gomez

"I am not fully aware of the program because they rarely appear when I commute. They should be armed with a taser, at the very least. My one encounter with a Metro Ambassador involved dealing with a homeless person who was bothering my friend and me, but the Ambassador didn't intervene as much as I hoped. Taking the Metro is still unsafe regardless of their appearance."

Izabel Enrique

"At first, I thought that they were a volunteer program. They don't seem like they're working a shift. Whenever I'm on the train, sometimes a tourist would ask me for help instead of a Metro Ambassador, even though they should be the ones more knowledgeable about these systems. I feel a little safer when riding the Metro because they always greet me as I enter a train or bus. They could work on deploying more Ambassadors to critical stations."

Michelle Sar

"I feel that the Metro Ambassador Program recently has been neglectful of their duties. The reason I say this is because of the lack of provided security and lack of intervention when something physical or verbal occurs. However, I feel a sense of security when they are physically inside the Metro trains/buses due to their vibrant Metro vest they wear. I feel this way because I know that I can rely on them when something is going on."

Sources

1. Juliano, M. A beginner's guide to Metro in L.A. TimeOut, 2024.

https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/things-to-do/los-angeles-metro-guide

2. Metro, "Metro Facts at a Glance" 2023.

https://www.metro.net/about/facts-glance/

3. Linton, J. Metro Officially Launches 300-Strong Transit Ambassadors Program. StreetsBlog LA, 2023. 

https://la.streetsblog.org/2023/03/06/metro-officially-launches-300-strong-transit-ambassadors-program

4. Metro, "Meet Our Metro Ambassadors" 2023.

https://www.metro.net/riding/ambassadors/