Bass Appointed As Metro Board Chair For Fiscal Year 2026-27

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Metro Board of Directors voted unanimously Thursday to appoint Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass as the board's chair during fiscal year 2026-27, marking the second time she will serve in the role.

Bass will succeed Whittier City Councilman Fernando Dutra, who is expected to leave the board at the end of his term. The board appointed Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger as first vice chair and Pomona Mayor Tim Sandoval as second vice chair.

Bass previously served as chair in fiscal year 2023-24.

All three elected officials will have a one-year term, starting July 1. Metro is expected to formally pass the gavel to Bass as part of the transit organization's annual State of the Agency event in the summer.

"We know the board would benefit from her (Bass) steady leadership as we prepare for transformative years ahead, from the World Cup in two weeks to the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028," Dutra said. "While most importantly continuing the daily work of improving safety, reliability, accessibility and equity across our system."

Bass thanked Dutra for his leadership, citing his expertise in construction and business, and ability to navigate difficult meetings.

Bass emphasized that Metro is at a defining moment with the World Cup on the horizon.

"The fact is that it will impact the entire region and the very significant role that Metro will play, and I view it as a dress rehearsal for 2028," Bass said. "We have an opportunity to try a number of things, see what works, and be prepared for the Olympics and Paralympic Games."

She said she looks forward to developing Metro's new safety system, which involves the implementation of the agency's new law enforcement department, as well as enhanced ambassador program.

The Metro Board in June 2024 agreed to establish an in-house public safety department and transition away from contracting with regional police agencies such as the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Long Beach Police Department.

Dutra will step down from the Metro Board in July, having lost his reelection bid in April. The Gateway Cities Council of Governments and the Los Angeles County City Selection Committee are in the process of selecting Dutra's replacement.

The board has 13 voting members, which includes all five L.A. County supervisors; the mayor of Los Angeles, who picks three other members from the city; and four elected representatives from four smaller cities, each from different areas of the region. Those areas encompass North County/San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley, Gateway Cities, and South Bay/Westside.

Dutra's seat is open for any mayor and city council members of 27 cities of the Gateway Cities COG. Any locally elected official can be nominated for the Metro seat from any quadrant with an opening. A nominee must receive approval from 87 cities in the county except Los Angeles, which selects its own members, during a special meeting of the city selection committee. The appointee serves a four-year term.

The LA County City Selection Committee is expected to meet next month, according to Metro officials.

Dutra has served on Metro's Executive Management Committee, Construction Committee and established a new Ad Hoc Board Composition Committee.

This ad hoc committee is working on new composition policies for the Metro Board, as the county is expected to expand its Board of Supervisors from five to nine members by 2032, which will also boost the Metro board from 13 to 17 members.

City News Service