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Metro CONSENT DECREE STATEMENT

May 21, 2001

Versión en español
In signing the Consent Decree in October 1996, the Metro agreed to significantly expand Metro bus service, reduce overcrowding, and introduce new types of bus service. Metro remains committed to achieving those objectives:

  • Metro is completely revamping its bus fleet by ordering more than 2,000 buses. Already more than 1,200 new compressed natural gas buses have been delivered and about 20 new buses arrive weekly. By mid-2005 the entire fleet will be replaced.

  • Since 1996, the number of buses in peak hour service has increased by 377 and Metro has added 1 million more annual hours of Metro Bus service. In addition, the agency has started new routes including the highly successful Metro Rapid Buses that utilize technology to extend green lights and speed travel time compared to local bus service.  

Neither the Metro staff nor Board of Directors has wavered from this position. Indeed, the draft Metro budget for Fiscal year 2002 calls for funding a record amount of Metro Bus service with nearly half the agency budget committed to funding Metro Bus and contract service and subsidies for 16 municipal bus operators in Los Angeles County.

The Bus Riders Union recognizes the progress Metro has made but keeps demanding more and more. The Metro Board had no choice other than to ask for the courts to consider the issues.

A year ago Metro appealed a decision by U.S. District Court Judge Terry Hatter to order additional buses on top of the more than $1 billion that Metro is spending on new buses and service. The Metro appealed to get legal clarification of what its obligations are. The federal appeals court has the power to affirm Judge Hatter's ruling or ask that it be reconsidered, including determining whether or not the Consent Decree is still enforceable. Metro believes that the court should decide the matter.

However, no matter what the court decides to do, Metro passengers can rest assured that the Metro remains committed to the basic principle of the Consent Decree to improve Metro Bus service.

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