As we close out another fiscal year, I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible work of the Metrolink team. From implementing one of the largest service expansions in our history to elevating our infrastructure and enhancing the customer experience, our staff has delivered countless upgrades for our riders within the last 12 months.
While I’m extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished, I’m even more excited about what’s on the horizon, including our new fare pilot program, which launches tomorrow. This next step in our reimagining of regional mobility is designed to drive ridership and give existing and potential customers more reasons to choose Metrolink.
With a similar eye on the future, I traveled to Washington, D.C. earlier this month as part of the Mobility 21 delegation that visited Capitol Hill. Mobility 21 is a coalition of public agencies and private-sector partners driving regional transportation solutions for Southern California.
In my role as a Board member, I was honored to take part in the trip and enjoyed meaningful conversations with Representatives Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Mark Takano (CA-39) and the office of Ken Calvert (CA-41), as well as staff at the U.S. Department of Transportation. As a group, we emphasized the urgent need to address bureaucratic barriers and allocate funding to repair aging infrastructure in the next surface transportation reauthorization. We also discussed the role of the federal government in supporting the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The fiscal-year changeover is more than an administrative milestone. It’s a time to reflect on all that we’ve achieved and all we hope to realize in the months ahead. With clarity in our vision and supreme confidence in our staff, I look forward to this promising next chapter.