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Metro Fare Gates, FIFA Grants, and Magic Mountain Mascots

Metro’s new safety upgrades, light rail progress, local World Cup grants, and the week’s best events.

Author

Adam Kruze
June 16, 2025

Hope you all survived Friday the 13th and Father’s Day—whether you were dodging chainsaws or dad jokes. This week, we’re diving into LA Metro’s new safety and fare enforcement upgrades (here’s hoping NoHo station gets a lot less sketchy), checking on the progress of the Valley’s new light rail line, and seeing which local orgs got some FIFA love. Oh, and if you’re wondering what to do this week—there’s bobbleheads, benefit concerts, and a giant lion mascot with a hockey stick. Let’s get into it.

Did You Know - In 1874 , San Fernando became the valley’s first organized community, thus earning the title “First City of the Valley”. With the arrival of the railroad two years later, town lots soared from $10 apiece to $150. Source.

💰️ New Metro Budget - Valley Impacts

It’s been a while since I’ve taken a ride on the subway. I used to ride it every day to work from NoHo to downtown between 2018 and 2020 and compared to the stress of driving to and from downtown, it was great. But cleanliness and safety were definitely issues. The last time I rode with a friend from NoHo to Hollywood to see a concert back in 2023, we had to step over a puddle of blood and witnessed a group of people openly drinking in the cars. It was mind boggling to see the system so abused and so little being done to improve it. After years of ridership declines and several disturbing violent attacks taking place, it’s nice to see something finally being done to address the issues and gives me some hope that I might feel safe enough to take a trip down to the Central Library with my child soon. Let’s get into what the new budget, passed back in late May, is doing to improve things.

🔧 What Was Changed

  • Metro installed new, taller (7 ft), sturdier fare gates at Lake (Pasadena) and Firestone (Florence‑Graham) Stations as part of a pilot program .

  • These gates include motion sensors and glass panels to deter “piggybacking”—people slipping in behind a paying rider.

  • The rollout is expanding to 10 existing stations including North Hollywood, within a “few months” at a cost of ~$15 M.

✅ Benefits and Early Results

  • Paid entries jumped dramatically:

    • Lake: +107% (from 512 to 1,062/day).

    • Firestone: +248% (from 297 to 1,033/day).

  • Incidents (reported via Transit Watch) dropped ~75% at Lake/Firestone.

  • Riders report feeling safer; “calmer, no people fighting, no brawls”

  • The gates close quickly to prevent fare-jumping, although some still bypass via emergency exits.

💳 2. Expansion of TAP‑to‑Exit (Proof‑of‑Payment on Exit)

🔄 What Was Changed

  • TAP-to-Exit requires tapping a TAP card (or scanning a valid Metrolink fare) both when entering and exiting end-of-line stations.

  • After piloting at North Hollywood (May 2024) and Downtown Santa Monica (Sept 2024), Metro expanded the program to Union Station on Feb 18, 2025, with a one-week education period followed by fare enforcement.

💡 Benefits (Especially at North Hollywood)

  • At North Hollywood B Line station, TAP‑to‑Exit led to:

    • >40% drop in crimes (fights, drug use, graffiti)

    • 90% of surveyed riders said the station felt cleaner, and 86% said they felt safer.

  • Across the E Line (Santa Monica), incidents declined ~55%.

  • Over $130,000 recovered in unpaid fares (~120k exits automatically corrected) because people tried to exit without tapping.

  • Metro also uses this approach to deter unauthorized riders; authorities found 94% of violent arrests involved people without valid fares.

📍 North Hollywood in Focus

  • TAP-to-Exit was first introduced at North Hollywood in May 2024.

  • The pilot resulted in major reductions (>40%) in crime incidents and a big increase in riders' sense of cleanliness and safety (90%–86%).

  • New fare gates are planned there as part of the next rollout wave, reinforcing fare enforcement and safety measures.

  • The combined strategy (taller gates + TAP-to-Exit + visibility of security/LIFE ambassadors) aims to maintain North Hollywood as a safer, fare-compliant station—a model Metro hopes to replicate elsewhere.

🧭 Overall Impacts

Initiative

Outcome

Tall fare gates

Stronger physical barrier → higher fare compliance, 100–248% ridership gain, fewer incidents

TAP-to-Exit enforcement

Transit-wide proof-of-payment → fare recovery, crime ↓, safety perception ↑

🎯 These changes mark a shift from passive to active fare enforcement and access control on LA Metro, delivering measurable gains in revenue recovery, crime reduction, and rider confidence.

North Hollywood Takeaway

A trailblazer for TAP‑to‑Exit, North Hollywood demonstrates how layered enforcement—physical gates plus exit tapping—can transform a busy terminus, slashing fare evasion and unwanted activity while boosting overall station well-being.

Click here to learn more about the Fiscal Year 2026 Metro Budget. The left tab provides some key insights into the budget and lets you click on areas of interest to learn more. The right tab lets you create your own version of the budget and is a great way to understand how much money is spent, on what, and what kind of trade-offs need to be made in order to have a balanced budget.

🚈 East SFV Light Rail Project: Update and Community Meetings Coming Up

🚋 East SFV Light Rail Project: Progress on Track

Metro’s East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit (ESFV LRT) Project is moving forward. The 6.7-mile line will run along Van Nuys Blvd from the G Line station at Van Nuys Blvd and Oxnard St up to Pacoima, with 11 stations planned to better connect communities like Van Nuys, Panorama City, and Arleta.

Metro is currently in the early construction phase—doing utility relocations, street work, and prepping sites. Major construction is expected to ramp up in 2025 and continue through 2030 (good things take time, right?). When finished, the line will run at street level, giving local businesses, residents, and commuters a much-needed transit option.

Metro is hosting two upcoming meetings to share updates on the East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Project—including construction progress, real estate, and support for local businesses.

🖥️ Virtual Meeting
Tuesday, June 17 | 6–7:30 PM
Zoom Link | Meeting ID: 935 1318 0180
Call-in: 213-338-8477 (LA) or 833-548-0276 (Toll Free)

🏢 In-Person Meeting & Open House
Thursday, June 26 | 6–7:30 PM
📍 Mid-Valley Family YMCA (6901 Lennox Ave, Van Nuys)
Free parking | Near Metro Lines 165, 233, 761 + LADOT DASH

Same info at both meetings. Spanish interpretation provided. ADA accommodations available with 72-hour notice: 818-701-3844 | [email protected]

⚽ World Cup: One Year to Go Celebration with Community Champions Grants

Los Angeles recently celebrated being one year away from hosting FIFA World Cup 2026, marked by a vibrant event on the iconic Fox Studio Lot. This celebration honored the city's storied World Cup history (think 1994 & 1999) and introduced 26 "Community Champions"—local nonprofits recognized for using soccer to drive positive community impact. Each received a $26,000 grant, a spotlight video, and public recognition ahead of the Cup..

🏙️ San Fernando Valley-Area Grant Recipients

From the full list of 26 Community Champions, the only organization noted in or serving the San Fernando Valley region is:

  • City of Burbank Parks and Recreation Department – Honored for its adaptive Powerchair Soccer program, which empowers athletes with significant physical disabilities through competitive wheelchair soccer. A model of inclusivity in the Valley .

✅ Final Takeaway

  • Celebration moment: LA marked the one-year countdown with pride, tying past soccer glory to future legacy through community investment.

  • Valley presence: Burbank Parks & Rec is the standout local grant recipient, spotlighted for its inclusive sports programming that aligns beautifully with World Cup legacy goals.

⚾ Dodgers Giveaway Week: Come for the Game, Leave with the Goods

If you're looking for a reason to hit a Dodgers game beyond overpriced nachos and yelling “Let’s goooo!” at strangers, this week’s giveaways might do the trick:

  • Mon, June 16 – Blake Snell Bobblehead: Watch the former Padres pitcher get immortalized... in Dodgers colors. Bold move, LA.

  • Tues, June 17 – World Series Replica Trophy: It's like the real thing—just small enough to fit on your desk and remind your coworkers who you root for.

  • Wed, June 18 – Gold Player Jerseys: Fancy threads to help you look like a champ, even if your Little League days are behind you.

  • Thurs, June 19 – Black Heritage Night: A special celebration with its own ticket package and themed giveaways honoring Black culture and history.

Come for the promos, stay for the rivalry... and maybe some fireworks if the Padres forget who’s boss in Chavez Ravine.

🎢 Bailey’s Bash at Magic Mountain – June 22

Start your summer with a scream (of joy, obviously) at Bailey’s Bash—a wild day at Six Flags Magic Mountain with the LA Kings’ furry hype-beast, Bailey! For $50, you get park admission, parking, a private catered picnic, puck shoot fun, and appearances from the Ice Crew and Kings alumni. All proceeds go to the Kings Care Foundation, so your thrills support a good cause. It’s the most fun you’ll have sweating in a lion’s presence all year.

😆 Comedy

  • MONDAY FUNNIES! - PRESENTED BY CHRIS PUTRO COMEDY Monday June 16, 7:00pm - 12:00am, Universal Bar and Grill 4093 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood

  • BT Kingsley Wednesday, June 18th, 7:30pm, Flappers Comedy Club Burbank - Main Room 102 E. Magnolia Blvd Burbank

  • Open Mic Comedy Thursday, June 19, 7:30 PM 11:55 PM Corbin Bowl 19616 Ventura Blvd, Tarzana

  • CHATEAU THURSDAY Featuring: Mike Ciriaco, Sam Ham, Brandon Joseph, Jerson Rojas, Chris Kostolef The Comedy Chateau 4615 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood

  • Don’t Tell Comedy - Saturday June 21st 8 p.m. Doors open @ 7:30 p.m. Exact location is announced at 8am on the day of.

🎭️Theatre and Performing Arts

📽️ Film

  • 🐔 40th Anniversary Screening of Return to Oz - OZCON International Kickoff Event – with Q&A featuring Lyle Conway (Lead Creature Designer & Voice of the Gump), Thursday, June 19 at Gary Marshall Theatre (4252 W Riverside Dr, Burbank); doors at 6:30 PM, screening at 7:30 PM, includes pre-show refreshments & exclusive poster – only 100 tickets available.

  • MOVIE MATINEE at Q4 Active: “The Fit Generation” Wednesday, June 18, 2025 4:00 p.m. 5:15 p.m. Q4 Active 6200 Variel Avenue, Ste. #2AWoodland Hills

🎵 Music

🤷‍♂️ Other

  • 🍺 🚲️ The Social Brewery Bike Ride - Wed, Jun 18 6:15pm-8:30pm, 8one8 Brewing Company, 8953 De Soto Ave, Canoga Park

  • Nerd Nite Los Angeles (“like TED talks with beer”)- Tue, Jun 17, 7pm - 10pm, Brewyard Beer Company Glendale CA, United States - PRESENTATION #1: Rewind to Remind: The Death and Rebirth of VHS, PRESENTATION #2: Garbo the Spy: A Masterclass in Trolling Nazis, PRESENTATION #3: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: An Immigrant Story

  • Juneteenth Skate Night ALL AGES June 19th 8pm - 11pm Admission only Moonlight Rollerway, Inc. 5110 San Fernando Road Glendale

  • Love & Devotion 2025 Burbank - The 2-Day Con For Romance novel fans and authors, June 20 · 9:30am - June 21 · 11pm Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport, 2500 North Hollywood Way Burbank

  • 🥗 Granada Hills Grubfest Friday, June 20, 2025, 5 – 10pm Chatsworth St between Zelzah Ave and White Oak Ave Granada Hills. Grubfest happens Every Friday Night

  • 🐦️ Bird Watching Walk in O'Melveny Park Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 9am – 12pm, O'Melveny Park Granada Hills

  • 🛹 Free Skateboarding Class - Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 4 – 5:30pm, Sheldon Skate Park 12511 Sheldon St. Sun Valley

  • ⚖️ LA City Council Budget Day - 7:30 AM – Complimentary Breakfast, 9:00 AM – Program Begins, Los Angeles City Hall

⚠️ BEACH AREA WARNINGS:

  • Redondo Beach Pier in Redondo Beach - 100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

  • Ramirez Creek at Paradise Cove - 100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

  • Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica - 100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

  • Castlerock Storm Drain at Topanga County Beach - 100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

  • Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey - Entire swim area.

  • Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro - Entire swim area.

  • The Bel Air Bay Club at Will Rogers State Beach - 100 yards up and down coast of the club border fence.