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Published on January 16, 2025
Los Angeles Metro Proposes Free Rides for Wildfire Victims as Community Recovery Efforts IntensifySource: Han Zheng, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

With the recent wildfire outbreaks displacing many Californians, the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is stepping up to provide aid. According to a recent release, Metro Board Chair Janice Hahn, alongside Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger and Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, has laid out a proposal to extend Metro's reduced fare program to wildfire victims. The Lifeline program, it seems, could soon offer cost-free rides to those affected, pending approval.

"Metro has resources we should put to work as we respond to these wildfires, get help to victims, and plan for recovery," Hahn emphasized, in a statement made by LA County. This move would not only lend a hand to public transportation riders affected by the disaster, but also expand the LIFE program’s accessibility allowing those in the fire's path to use Metro's services gratis. The recovery efforts are shaping up to incorporate Metro's fleet, personnel expertise, and properties.

During the Executive Management Committee Meeting, Supervisor Hilda Solis joined the motion as a co-author and supporter. If the motion passes at the next Metro Board meeting, resources will be orchestrated to reach out to evacuation and resource centers, thereby directly aiding survivors to sign up for the reduced fare programs. "It’s our duty to uplift our residents and employees when they need it most," said Barger, as per the County of Los Angeles.

With at least 19 Metro employees having lost their homes and 46 displaced, the motion carries significant weight for the internal community. "The devastation caused by the Eaton and Palisades fires has left lives lost, homes destroyed, and thousands displaced," Horvath told LA County, driving the point home. Metro's CEO Stephanie Wiggins would be authorized to offer financial assistance to impacted employees and engage in disaster assistance programs. The intent is clear: to leverage the organization's comprehensive resources in aiding the recovery efforts of all affected parties. Next Thursday's full board meeting will be crucial in determining the next steps for this compassionate initiative.