Oct. 9, 2007 Contact Kim Upton/Marc Littman Metro Media Relations 213.922.2703/213.922.2700 metro.net/press/pressroom mediarelations@metro.net FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Live Internet Chat Set for Oct. 17 at Metro.net

Metro Board Chair Pam O’Connor Seeks Public’s Creative Ideas For Fighting Traffic

Metro Board Chair Pam O’Connor invites the public to comment on the agency’s traffic-busting plans for Los Angeles County and share ideas for staving off gridlock in Metro’s first Live Chat internet forum scheduled during the noon hour on Wednesday, Oct. 17. Go to metro.net/chat and post questions and comments live or in advance. There also will be a link on the homepage of metro.net.

O’Connor, a Santa Monica City Council member and other Metro executives will host monthly lunch-hour chats live at metro.net. Topics will vary and will be posted in advance on Metro.net.

“Traffic is everybody’s problem – no one has a monopoly on creative traffic solutions. This is a way for Metro to reach out and talk directly to the public about new – and maybe tried and true – ideas on reducing congestion,” O’Connor said.

For this first session, O’Connor will focus on efforts to improve mobility in the nation’s most traffic-congested region. She’ll briefly discuss some of the many transportation programs Metro is involved with, from expanding the network of freeway carpool lanes and the Metro Freeway Service Patrol to buying bigger buses, building new rail lines, adding more Metro Rapid service and making vanpools more affordable.

O'Connor will also talk about a surge of joint development in transit corridors that makes living and working close to public transit an option for many.

“There’s no single answer to ending gridlock,” O’Connor said. “And building more highways is not a solution, even if we had the money and the land, which we don’t. Still, there is a lot that government and individuals can do that will make a difference not only with traffic, but the environment, as well. Let’s start a dialogue on these creative ideas.”

For more information on Metro’s wide range of mobility programs, go to metro.net or call 1-800 COMMUTE.

Editor’s Note: Metro is the proper name in referring to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. For the past three years Metro has been changing all its signage and other materials to reflect the name change. If you need a current Metro logo, please call Metro Media Relations at (213) 922-2700.

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