$9.7-billion budget for the FY27 fiscal year approved by Metro Board

Despite facing a large structural deficit driven by rising operational and construction costs, Metro was able to deliver a balanced $9.7-billion budget for FY27 that maintains core services, expands safety initiatives, funds the construction of new projects and avoids service cuts.  

Here’s what you should know: 

• Modest Growth Below Inflation: The proposed budget represents a modest 2.4% increase over the prior year’s budget. This is notably below the current 3% inflation rate in our nation and demonstrates Metro’s commitment to fiscal discipline.  

• Investment in Core Transit Service Levels: The budget ensures reliable transportation by maintaining 7.13 million revenue service hours (RSH) for buses and 1.45 million RSH for rail systemwide.  

• Hiring Sworn Officers for Metro’s Department of Public Safety: Continuing safety resource funding, in a historic milestone following its initial launch, Metro’s new Department of Public Safety was allocated $5.8 million in the FY27 budget and the department will be hiring its first sworn police officers this coming fiscal year. 

• Increased Funding for Care-Based Safety programs: The FY27 budget expands its care-based safety resource funding to $430 million (a 1.9% increase), which includes an $87.6 million allocation for programs such as the Metro Ambassadors, Homeless Outreach (HOME) teams and Crisis Response.  

• Expanded Station Experience and Cleanliness Efforts: Metro surveys found that customer satisfaction increased to 87% in 2026, and to build on this, Metro is investing $311 million in cleaning and $29.6 million for station experience upgrades, including modernizing elevators, upgrading lighting, and installing more taller (but ADA compliant) faregates that discourage fare evasion.  

• Critical D Line Extension Milestones: The budget includes major construction funding of $680.2 million that includes wrap-up work on Section 1 (which opened earlier this month) and the final stages of construction for Sections 2 and 3.  

• Advancing Major Rail and Bus Rapid Transit Projects: Funding is secured to push forward several transit lines, including $319.2 million for the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Project, $188.2 million for the Southeast Gateway Line, and design work for the A Line Foothill Extension toward Claremont.  

• Record-Breaking Public Input Shapes the Budget: Driven by the “Listen and Learn” equity pillar, the proposed budget incorporates community feedback from a record-breaking 7,500+ public submissions. 

• Where to view the full budget: The FY27 Proposed Budget Book that was adopted by the board as well as other information can be seen at https://budget.metro.net/budget-book.html