Date: July 21, 2022
Author(s): Elizabeth Owen
Abstract
Metrolink, a commuter rail agency operated by the Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA), is one of the busiest public transportation providers in Southern California. As the pandemic continues, Metrolink ridership has been slow to recover. In February 2022, Metrolink reported 282,483 passenger boardings, only 28% of pre-pandemic ridership levels recorded in February 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has left future travel to work behavior uncertain; most office employees have not yet returned to commuting five days per week. This uncertainty underscores the precarious future of American commuter rail, with existing rail service narrowly focused on connecting suburbs to downtown employment centers.
About the Project
This capstone project was completed in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Master of Urban & Regional Planning at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.