Ride Safe L.A.

Public transit

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

The pressing issues of homelessness, economic insecurity, and mental health facing our region spill over onto public transit, making it both a reflection of and a focal point for addressing broader social challenges. Recent incidents, including violence and fatalities, heighten fear and deter ridership. The bureaucratic structure of government-run transit agencies often hinders swift and decisive action; the last two chief safety officers at Metro were fired for attempting to work outside these constraints. We believe an outside advocacy force is essential to represent the public and provide a consistent voice for public safety, offering a unified vision of what safe, accessible, and reliable transit looks like for riders. Our goal is not only to improve safety and accessibility but also to make transit attractive to car owners seeking a safe, clean, comfortable, and reliable alternative. Addressing safety, homelessness, mental health, and other social issues within transit is crucial.

Our initiative focuses on eliminating deaths and reducing violence in LA County’s transit systems and improving access to social support services for vulnerable populations. To achieve these goals, we will implement a series of targeted actions in English and Spanish:
Staffed Assistance Points
We will propose a pilot program to establish visible staffed touch points at kiosks at key stations and transit centers across LA County. These assistance points will provide assistance navigating social support services for vulnerable populations, making it easier for individuals to find help quickly, and transforming stations into supportive hubs within the transit system.
Security & Safety Solutions
We will advocate for enhanced station security measures and promote safer design in transit spaces, including better lighting and emergency response systems to improve overall safety. Additionally, we will develop a public safety dashboard to monitor and publish safety metrics, promoting transparency and accountability.
Facilitating Community Engagement around Public Safety
We will conduct workshops in partnership with the community to gather feedback on safety enhancements and technology implementation. To build public trust and encourage engagement, we will launch campaigns to foster a community-oriented approach to safety. Finally, we will train a team of 500 volunteer transit advocates to serve as extra eyes and ears, reporting issues and concerns to enhance safety and responsiveness.

If successful, or efforts will boost transit ridership in LA County by transforming transit networks with:
Improved Safety: Enhanced security measures and infrastructure will reduce incidents, boosting rider confidence and increasing transit use.
Enhanced Accessibility: Staffed assistance points and streamlined services will ensure inclusivity and responsiveness to diverse needs.
Community Engagement: Workshops and campaigns will build trust, encouraging safety reporting and support for vulnerable individuals.
Holistic Social Support: Better integrating transit spaces with access to resources for homelessness, mental health, and food insecurity will improve community well-being.
Transparency: An online safety dashboard will track incidents, driving accountability and progress towards our goal of zero deaths on transit in LA. This comprehensive approach will elevate transit ridership, fostering a safer, more inclusive experience riding transit for all residents in Los Angeles County.

Success in our new initiative will be defined and measured through several key metrics and indicators:
Safety Metrics: Monitoring reductions in incidents such as violence, accidents, and crimes within the transit system.
Ridership Increase: Assessing growth in transit ridership data as a direct result of enhanced safety measures and improved public perception of security.
Community Engagement: Evaluating participation in safety workshops and volunteer programs to assess the effectiveness of public safety campaigns in fostering trust and active involvement in community safety.
Impact on Social Issues: Quantifying the impact of staffed assistance points within the transit system on addressing social issues.
Through these metrics, we will gauge the effectiveness of our efforts in transforming public transit in Los Angeles County into a safer, more accessible, and inclusive system that enhances community well-being and supports sustainable growth in transit ridership.

Rail LA (Rail CA) will leverage its social media resources, organizational expertise, and strong relationships with the American Institute of Architects and the American Planning Association. These contributions will be instrumental in building credibility and ensuring the successful design and implementation of the Staffed Assistance Points pilot.