Enhancing the Transit Experience with Stephen Tu: Innovations at LA Metro

Transit Unplugged

For people to want to ride transit, they need to feel safe. And feeling safe is more than just physical safety, it's a perception. A perception based on cleanliness, vandalism, anti-social behaviors, loitering, open drug use, fare jumping; things that create a feeling of disorder on top of actual physical safety.

This was a huge problem in LA overall, so they decided to do something about it.

On this episode Paul talks with Stephen Tu, the Deputy Executive Officer for Station Experience at LA Metro on how they did it first at one station and are now expanding the changes system-wide. Some of the programs they talk about are:

Tap-to-exit program on fare gates

Open elevator doors

Smart restrooms,

Ambient noise in parking garages and classical music in stations

Stephen talks about the results and the tremendous difference these efforts have made. The pilot tests were so successful that Stephen is in the process of rolling these tactics across the entire LA Metro subway system. But these tactics are only one side of the issue, Stephen also talks about LA Metro is helping people with reduced fares, community support workers, and other tangible things to address the root causes of these anti-social behaviors.

All within the context of planning for the 2028 Olympic Games.

Coming up next week we have a special episode brought to by the South West Transit Association (SWTA). We'll bring you the recording from their post-election update and discussion with members broadcast and recorded on November 12.

00:00 Creating a better experience at LA Metro Stations

00:05 Introduction and background

01:59 Welcome Stephen Tu

02:33 Overview of the Station Experience Program

03:48 Addressing Societal Challenges and Safety

05:33 Success Stories and Program Expansion

06:35 Innovative Fare Collection: Tap to Exit

10:39 Open Elevator Doors Initiative

13:21 Smart Restrooms for Riders

17:05 Music and Ambient Noise for Better Experience

21:04 Conclusion and Future Outlook

23:05 Coming up next week on Transit Unplugged

Transit Unplugged is brought to you by Modaxo https://www.modaxo.com

• Host: Paul Comfort
• Producer: Paul Comfort
• Editor and Writer: Tris Hussey
• Executive Producer: Julie Gates

Special thanks to:

• Brand design: Tina Olagundoye
• Social Media: Tatyana Mechkarova
• Marketing content, Transit Unplugged Newsletter, & transit puns: Tris Hussey

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