Bass to Lead Metro Board Amid Ridership Gains

LA Mayor Karen Bass, taking the Metro Board chair for the 2026-27 period, outlined four priorities—safety, affordability, reliability and readiness—and pushed a long-term plan to make Metro fare-free while expanding peak-hour bus lanes from 80 to more than 100 miles ahead of the 2028 Olympics. She also highlighted ongoing Metro governance changes and the push to advance bus rapid transit projects, even as permit hurdles threaten delays.