Lasting Impacts

Metro’s transit infrastructure and systems impact people’s lives by facilitating economic opportunities and fostering healthy, resilient communities. These systems also have the power to divide, pollute and isolate. Planning for inclusive and resilient neighborhoods is essential for equitable outcomes across Metro’s systems and services, and LA County as a whole.

With this in mind, Metro knows that historical context must inform its projects and programming. Metro prioritizes fairness—regardless of race, color, national origin or income—and meaningful community involvement in decisions that influence the places where people live, work, play and learn. These values are especially relevant for communities disproportionately affected by inequitable decisions and their subsequent impacts. As such, these values are key to building equity in transit.

Metro_Equity_Lasting-Impacts_Current-Environmental-Climate-Inequity

Current Environmental and Climate Inequity

Historical redlining and unfair zoning rules made it more likely for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and/or People of Color)…

Metro_Equity_Lasting-Impacts_Transportation-as-Pollutant

Transportation as a Pollutant

Living near transportation infrastructure like freeways still impacts surrounding communities, many of which are BIPOC or low-income…

Metro_Equity_Lasting-Impacts_Public-Transit-Dependency-in-Car-Dependent-County

Public Transit Dependency in a Car Dependent County

Investment in freeway infrastructure alongside historical divestment from public transportation have contributed to car dependency across LA…

Metro_Equity_Lasting-Impacts_Untitled-Mickalene-Thomas
Close-up of Untitled by Mickalene Thomas, at the Leimert Park Station.
Personas en leimert park pensaron que no tuvieron una voz.

— Pasajero Frecuente del Metro

ORIGINAL QUOTE

_________________


People in Leimert Park felt that they didn't have a voice.


— Frequent Metro Rider

TRANSLATED QUOTE

No me gusta que cuando para el tren apagan el aire acondicionado.

— Pasajero Frecuente del Metro

ORIGINAL QUOTE

_________________


I don’t like that when the train stops, they turn off the air conditioning.


— Frequent Metro Rider

TRANSLATED QUOTE


Planning should prioritize routes that connect essential services directly and reduce long transfers.


— Student Metro Rider
Muchas personas trabajan en el valle, en los 80 no habia metro para el valle.

— Pasajero Frecuente del Metro

ORIGINAL QUOTE

_________________


Many people work in the Valley; in the 80s there wasn’t Metro for the Valley.


— Frequent Metro Rider

TRANSLATED QUOTE


Equitable transit looks like accessibility; accessible in the way that people can afford it and participate in it.


— Bus Line 2 Rider