All five Metro Service Councils will be conducting their monthly meetings in May as regularly scheduled. As a reminder, the Westside/Central Service Council made a permanent change to their meeting location – moving to the Metro headquarters building in downtown LA – last month. All Service Councils are scheduled to vote on public hearing dates in their region for proposed service changes that would go into effect in December this year if approved. None of the proposed changes have been finalized yet, but should be made available in early June. The public hearings will be held during the month of July.

All Councils will be given an update on Metro’s FY16 Budget Development Process and receive the monthly Director’s report that provides statistics on ridership, performance and other measures of Metro service. Starting this month, the reports will be given by newly appointed Deputy Executive Officer Gary Spivack, who will oversee Metro Service Council activities from this point forward.

For more information about each Service Council, click on the name of the Council to view their web page. Meeting topics for the May Service Council meetings, in addition to the Director’s Report, include:

San Fernando Valley (6:30 pm, Wednesday, 5/6) – Update on Valley-Westside Express Service and Route Review; Update on Line 154 Scheduling and Route Review; Update on FY16 Budget Development Process; Approval of July Public Hearing Date for Potential December Service Changes.

San Gabriel Valley (5 pm, Monday, 5/11) – Report on Line 190/194 Foothill Transit Proposal; Update on FY16 Budget Development Process; Approval of July Public Hearing Date for Potential December Service Changes.

Westside/Central (5 pm, Wednesday, 5/13) – Update on Wilshire All-Door Boarding Pilot Project; Discussion on Metro Safe Space and Sexual Harassment –Policy, Statistics, and Safety Measures; Update on FY16 Budget Development Process; Approval of July Public Hearing Date for Potential December Service Changes.

Gateway Cities (2 pm, Thursday, 5/14) – Update on Metro Security in the Gateway Cities Region; Report on Fare Evasion by Line (Gateway Cities Region); Update on FY16 Budget Development Process; Approval of July Public Hearing Date for Potential December Service Changes.

South Bay (9:30 am, Friday, 5/15) – Update on FY16 Budget Development Process; Approval of July Public Hearing Date for Potential December Service Changes.

For a detailed listing of all Council meeting dates, times and locations, click here. As always, the public is encouraged to attend and share their comments with the Service Councils on improving bus service throughout L.A. County.

If you would like to provide input to a Council but cannot attend a meeting, you can submit your comments in writing through the Service Council web page or send them to service councils@metro.net. If your comments are for a specific Council, please make sure to indicate which one you are addressing in your e-mail.

There are currently open seats on some Service Councils. For more information on the open seats and how to apply click here.