Bus Riders Allege Class, Racial Bias Behind MTA Service Cuts
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A group of local bus riders says it's about time their civil rights complaints about the Metropolitan Transit Authority were investigated.
KNX 1070's Bill Cooper reports the Los Angeles Bus Riders Union is cheering a decision by the Federal Transit Authority to look deeper into proposed MTA service cuts, a decision they say has long been influenced by socioeconomic factors.
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"One of the things that we're talking about is that most of the cuts are taking place in areas where there are poor...there are people of color, and they are not proposing to cut any of the service going to the more affluent and predominantly white suburbs," activist Crystal McMillan said outside MTA headquarters in downtown Los Angeles.
A transit official says those charges are unfounded.
"Whatever type of compliance review they want to do, we welcome it," the MTA's Mark Littman said.
The MTA argues that proposed service changes currently being considered along with already-implemented service cuts are necessary steps to secure the department's financial health.
The FTA says it will conduct an on site compliance review this year.
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