The holiday season is a time of year that naturally inspires reflection, gratitude, hope and excitement, and for me, these emotions feel especially profound as 2024 draws to a close.
As many of you likely know, our family home was lost last month in the Mountain Fire, which devastated parts of Ventura County. While I’m deeply relieved to report that everyone – including our beloved pets – escaped unharmed, the experience has put a renewed focus on everything that we have to be grateful for. The outpouring of support and well wishes we’ve received from our Metrolink family, industry colleagues, friends and neighbors has been overwhelming. From the bottom of my heart, thank you – it truly means the world to us!
For Metrolink, too, the end of 2024 has been a time of transition and resilience. In October, we introduced the largest schedule expansion in our agency’s history, marking a significant milestone in our ongoing transformation from a commuter line to a regional passenger rail system. In addition to increasing daytime and evening service on weekdays, we’ve streamlined connections, making it easier to travel between counties and opening up new opportunities for our customers.
Despite months of meticulous planning and modeling, Metrolink’s new schedule has seen cascading delays on some lines, which we are actively working to resolve. To demonstrate our commitment to our customers and our appreciation for their patience as we work through growing pains, we are going above and beyond our existing Quality Service Pledge, offering a 25% discount for all monthly pass holders in the months of January and February 2025.
Even with on-time performance challenges, strong ridership data has shown that we are on the right track. Since the new schedule launched, we’ve experienced multiple post-pandemic ridership records, setting a high mark of 23,999 on Nov. 12. Special events like last month’s Dodgers World Series Parade, which skyrocketed Metrolink’s Nov. 1 ridership to 42,562 (nearly double the weekday average), are also helping guide our preparations for even more significant moments on the horizon, such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
While we’ve learned some valuable lessons in 2024, we’ve also had much to celebrate, and the progress we’ve made is laying a lasting foundation for Metrolink’s future. None of it would be possible without the dedication and exceptional contributions of our talented team who keep our operation running day in and day out. They are the backbone of our service, and we couldn’t do what we do without each and every member. I also want to thank our incredible board of directors, member agencies and partners for their continued support and belief in our vision.
I may be more sentimental this holiday season than usual, but I truly believe that, more than anything, it’s the people—the colleagues, partners and customers—who have made my journey with Metrolink so meaningful. Together, we’re building more than a transportation system; we’re strengthening connections between communities and creating opportunities that are changing lives.
As we dive into 2025, I look forward to the adventures ahead with optimism and excitement. Happy holidays, and here’s to a bright and promising new year!