LA Metro is safer than it’s been in years — and it’s no accident

Opinion pieces have an important role in shaping public debate. But that debate should be grounded in facts.

Safety is not a new priority for Metro. Since Stephanie Wiggins was named CEO five years ago, Metro has recognized that public safety must be the foundation of providing reliable public transportation.

As such, safety has been at the center of every major operational decision. That commitment has driven significant investments in personnel, infrastructure, technology, outreach and enforcement. 

We also understand that statistics alone do not define a rider’s experience. Every customer deserves to feel safe every time he or she boards a train or bus.

Even one incident is one too many. That is why Metro continues to invest aggressively in improving safety throughout the system while measuring our progress transparently.

A Los Angeles Metro Rail Expo Line train at the 7th St/Metro Center station platform. Getty Images

A recent op-ed in The California Post by Christopher F. Rufo and Haley Strack of the Manhattan Institute overlooks the substantial work Metro has undertaken to make the system safer and the measurable progress that effort has produced.

Metro has invested millions of dollars in strengthening fare compliance through new fare gates that are significantly more difficult to evade, expanded fare inspections, TAP-to-Exit technology and station redesigns that improve access control.

Fare enforcement remains an important component of our safety strategy — not because fares alone determine safety, but because secure stations help create an environment where riders and employees feel protected.

The results are real.

A Los Angeles Metro bus on a bridge in Downtown LA. Shutterstock / Walter Cicchetti

Violent crime declined 6.7% in 2025, marking the second consecutive year of reductions. Crimes against society fell by 33%.

Stations equipped with new taller fare gates have experienced a 69% reduction in rider and Transit Ambassador-reported incidents related to security concerns, vandalism/graffiti and cleanliness.

At stations where TAP-to-Exit has been implemented, security-related reports submitted have declined by 40%.

These improvements are not accidental. They are the product of a comprehensive ecosystem that combines law enforcement, Transit Ambassadors, homeless outreach teams, technology and smarter design. No single intervention solves every challenge.

Together, however, they are producing measurable results.

At the same time, Metro recognizes that public transportation serves everyone. Our system must be both safe and accessible. Those goals are complementary, not competing. We can enforce fares, connect vulnerable individuals with services, support our frontline employees and create a welcoming environment for millions of riders every year.

Metro does not claim that every challenge has been solved. We know there is more work to do, and we welcome constructive scrutiny from riders, elected officials, journalists and the communities we serve.

Accountability makes us better.

But accountability also requires a full assessment of the facts.

Crime on Metro has reached its lowest levels since 2021. Customer satisfaction is at record highs. Ridership continues to grow as more people choose transit for work, school, entertainment and daily life.

Those outcomes are the result of sustained effort, strategic investment and the dedication of thousands of Metro employees and public safety professionals who work every day to improve the customer experience.

The conversation about public safety should be guided by evidence, accountability and a shared commitment to making transit better for everyone.

William Scott is chief of police and emergency management at the Metro Department of Public Safety.