MTA APPROVES PLAN TO CONTINUE FREE FREEWAY SERVICE AID
FOR OVER ONE-QUARTER MILLION STRANDED L.A. DRIVERS            

The MTA Board of Directors has approved 13 contracts totaling $13.2 million which will be allocated to tow truck companies that are part of the MTA-funded Metro Freeway Service Patrol (FSP), a free service which comes to the assistance of over 1,000 Los Angeles County freeway motorists everyday who experience car problems.

            Metro FSP is credited with aiding some 300,000 stranded drivers annually and reducing the duration of traffic congestion because of the Metro FSP’s quick response. The program, which receives a total of $16 million each year from the MTA for over 20 tow truck companies, has been in operation since 1991 and is the largest program of its kind in the nation.

            The Metro FSP consists of 41 beats (designated patrol areas) serviced by 150 tow trucks that patrol 400 miles of congested Los Angeles freeways during weekday peak hours and on selected beats during weekday midday and weekends.

Besides towing, service includes changing flat tires, jump-starting stalled vehicles, refilling radiators or providing a gallon of gas. The trucks are easily identifiable by the MTA and FSP logos.

            The Metro FSP provides an average of 30,000 vehicle assists per month. Data shows that the wait time for FSP is less than five minutes on 72 percent of all vehicle assists. Metro FSP service hours are typically Monday through Friday, 6-10 a.m. and 3-7 p.m.; reduced service during mid-day, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; and on weekends, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

MTA-076                                                           ###
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