LA Metro Launches Spanish News Platform for Riders
LA Metro launches El Pasajero Spanish news platform for 44.8% of county residents
Metro Adds Spanish News Platform for LA Riders
Los Angeles County Metro launched El Pasajero, a Spanish-language news platform providing transit updates to the region's Spanish-speaking riders. The platform went live October 26, 2024, transit officials said. About 44.8% of LA County's nearly 10 million residents speak Spanish at home, according to Census data.
Platform Mirrors English News Service
El Pasajero serves as the Spanish counterpart to The Source, Metro's English-language news blog, according to the transit agency. The platform provides service alerts, route updates, and transit news in Spanish. Officials didn't disclose the cost to develop and maintain the platform. Transit agencies receiving federal funding must provide meaningful access to services for Limited English Proficiency populations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
Service Details and Scope
The platform publishes transit news, service updates, and rider information at elpasajero.metro.net, officials said. Metro hasn't released usage statistics since the October launch. Officials didn't provide details about staffing for translation and content production. The platform aims to ensure Spanish-speaking riders receive the same information available to English-speaking customers, according to the agency.
Implementation Already Complete
The platform became operational October 26, 2024, with content published regularly since launch. Officials didn't disclose the planning timeline that led to El Pasajero's development. The agency announced the service directly through the Spanish-language platform rather than through traditional English-language press channels.
Access for Spanish-Speaking Riders
Spanish-speaking riders can access transit news and service information through the dedicated platform. The service addresses language barriers that can prevent riders from staying informed about their transit system. Riders can find real-time updates and service information through Moovit, which provides multilingual transit information for Metro's bus and rail services throughout Los Angeles County.
