Metrolink's fall service cuts are averted by a $20 million state grant

A $20 million grant from the California State Transportation Agency will keep Metrolink from cutting service by up to 40% later this month, the Los Angeles Daily News reported. The state announced the grant late Thursday. Metrolink's board had voted to cut weekday service 29% and weekend service 40%, an overall 32% reduction compared with the 2025 schedule. With the grant, the cuts scheduled for November and December will not take effect.

What to know

The grant. CalSTA's $20 million is part of $66 million in State Rail Assistance awarded to several projects that protect and improve commuter and intercity rail across California. Metrolink's award was the largest, the Daily News reported.
Why the cuts were on the table. In early October, Metrolink said it had to cut service to match revenues. The announcement came shortly after a recent fare increase, the Daily News reported.
What the cuts would have done in Los Angeles County. The Antelope Valley Line would have seen a 67% reduction on weekends and a 27% drop on weekdays. L.A. Metro cut its own Metrolink funding this year by 3%, the article noted.
Other counties. Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties, which did not cut their Metrolink funding, were scheduled to see reductions of up to 36%.
Orange County. The cuts would have removed half of Orange County's weekend service and 38% of its weekday trips. Weekday service to Oceanside would have ended, pushing riders toward the Surfliner, which charges higher fares.
Future cuts. The grant also helps avert additional cuts planned for fiscal 2027-28, according to CalSTA.
Why the system is short on money. Metrolink communications director Meredith Yeoman blamed “an unusually complex budget cycle.” Ridership and fare revenues remain below pre-pandemic levels, operating costs have risen, federal and state funding has changed, and member agencies face financial limits, she said. Metrolink says it reduced costs and adjusted fares before considering service cuts.
The Olympics. CalSTA says the funding would keep service running ahead of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Why the state stepped in

The grant is a rescue for a regional rail network that has struggled since the pandemic. The Daily News reported that the state transportation agency is wrestling with the difficulty of recovering ridership since COVID-19. Metrolink is run by a board representing six counties, and its service reductions had to balance a budget that no longer matches what riders pay and what the region spends. The state's $66 million in awards went to several projects, and Metrolink's $20 million was the largest single share, which signals how central the system is to the state's rail plans.

What the state and Metrolink said

California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin tied the money to a clear expectation:

“Metrolink connects millions of Southern Californians to jobs, school and other daily needs. This state investment keeps Metrolink trains running for the workers, students and families who rely on them, and it comes with a clear expectation that Metrolink and its member agencies will work with the state on lasting solutions.”

Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle said the investment “helps us maintain the service our riders depend on to get to work.” He added that it “provides much-needed stability as we work with the state and our member agencies to build a more sustainable future for regional rail.”

Bart Reed, executive director of The Transit Coalition, said, “There are a lot of people who depend on Metrolink.” He pointed to regular ridership between South Los Angeles and Palmdale and Lancaster. Those riders take the A Line light rail to Union Station, then ride Metrolink's Antelope Valley Line, which stops in Santa Clarita, Palmdale and Lancaster.

Frequently asked questions

Are the Metrolink service cuts canceled? The Daily News reported that the grant prevents the service cuts scheduled for November and December. CalSTA says it also helps avert cuts planned for fiscal 2027-28.

Which riders feel it most? Riders on the Antelope Valley Line, especially on weekends, would have seen the deepest cuts in L.A. County, the article said.

Does the grant fix Metrolink's budget? Not on its own. The state expects Metrolink and its member agencies to work toward lasting solutions, and Metrolink describes the money as stability rather than a permanent fix.

Why did Metrolink propose cuts in the first place? Metrolink said it had to match service to revenues. Ridership and fare revenue remain below pre-pandemic levels, and operating costs have gone up.

What to watch

The next questions are about the long term. The state wants Metrolink and its member agencies to build lasting solutions, and the reporting does not describe a permanent funding plan yet. The fiscal 2027-28 cuts that the grant helps avert are a reminder that the budget problem has not gone away. The Olympics add a deadline: the region wants reliable service in place before the LA28 Games.

The county picture also matters. L.A. Metro cut its own Metrolink funding by 3% this year, and the Antelope Valley Line was the county route facing the deepest cuts. The state grant sits alongside those local decisions. The Daily News reporting does not say whether Metro plans to change its contribution.

Metrolink’s board, which represents six counties, voted for the service cuts. Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties did not cut their own Metrolink funding, yet they were still scheduled for reductions of up to 36%. That shows the cuts were a regional budget problem, not only a Los Angeles one.

Our take

Riders who depend on Metrolink, especially on weekends, can breathe easier for now. A 40% weekend cut would have been hard on people who commute to work, school and appointments. But the grant is a stopgap. The state wants lasting solutions, and the reporting makes clear that ridership and fares have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. With the Olympics coming, the region has every reason to want reliable trains. Do you ride Metrolink? Tell us in the comments how the service fits into your week, and what would make it more reliable for you.

Sources

Los Angeles Daily News via Mass Transit: CA: Metrolink saved by state: Deep fall train cuts averted by $20 million grant

File photo: Metrolink trains crossing a bridge over the Los Angeles River, by Downtowngal, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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LA This Weekend Team