LA Metro operates one of the most complex public transportation networks in the United States, serving a region defined by extreme congestion, diverse rider needs, and sprawling geography. Across Los Angeles County, riders depend on transit not just for commuting, but for accessing medical care, education, work, and daily essentials.

As LA Metro worked to modernize its network, one challenge became increasingly clear: traditional fixed-route service alone could not meet every rider’s needs. First- and last-mile gaps, lower-density neighborhoods, and geographically isolated areas limited access to the broader system. To address these challenges, LA Metro launched Metro Micro, an on-demand microtransit service that is now powered by Spare.

From the beginning, Metro Micro was intentionally designed to strengthen the broader transit network rather than compete with it. As Dan Nguyen, Senior Executive Officer, Transit Operations - Strategic Initiatives at LA Metro, explains, “The fixed route is the core network, and microtransit brings people into it. It completes the first and last mile for riders who otherwise cannot access fixed routes.”

Expanding access without competing with fixed routes

Los Angeles presents a uniquely difficult transit environment. Heavy congestion impacts reliability. Operating costs are high. Rider needs vary widely, from students and workers to older adults and riders with disabilities. The scale and complexity of the network mean that new services must adapt quickly to local conditions.

LA Metro faced several core challenges:

• Closing first- and last-mile gaps that limited fixed-route ridership
• Serving lower-density and geographically isolated areas efficiently
• Balancing affordability, service quality, and operational sustainability
• Ensuring new services complemented, rather than cannibalized, existing bus and rail

Additionally, Dan Nguyen explains: “Metro Micro played that first and last mile role, helping riders connect to bus and rail rather than competing with those services.”
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The approach: integrated microtransit powered by Spare

Metro Micro is one of the largest public-agency microtransit services in the United States, offering on-demand public transportation in Los Angeles County. Powered by Spare, its primary goal is to improve access to the broader transit system by serving riders who cannot easily reach fixed-route service.

“Metro Micro increases entire system productivity and ridership by serving people who could not easily access the fixed-route service,” says Nguyen.

Using Spare’s unified platform, LA Metro brought rider booking, real-time vehicle tracking, and operations management into a single system. Riders can book trips on demand or in advance, specify arrive-by or depart-at times, and track their trips in real time through a familiar, accessible interface.

Behind the scenes, the platform allows LA Metro to integrate Metro Micro with fixed-route service, guiding riders toward the most appropriate option for each trip. In some cases, that is microtransit. In others, it is an existing bus or rail connection. This integrated approach ensures Metro Micro strengthens the network as a whole.

Delivering ease with one-click multimodal trips

Before Metro Micro’s integration with Spare, booking a multimodal trip often required riders to navigate multiple tools, schedules, and systems. Today, riders can plan and book end-to-end journeys through a single interface.

Raj Curry, Senior Service Planning Manager at LA Metro, describes the impact: “I can do that with one click from the software that we have now, with Spare. It just makes that booking, including that first and last mile, very convenient.”

Spare’s platform unifies booking across mobile app, web, and call center channels, ensuring riders receive the same information regardless of how they access the service. Real-time data from both fixed-route and on-demand services reduces uncertainty, improves reliability, and builds rider confidence across the entire journey.
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Results: improved access, satisfaction, and rider independence

Since launch, Metro Micro has delivered measurable results for both riders and operations teams.

Key outcomes include:

• 97% rider satisfaction, based on in-app feedback
• 94% bookings in Rider App
• 7700+ monthly active riders, averaging 8 trips per month each
  
  • Increased access to transit for riders previously unable to reach fixed routes
• 3 ppvh (passengers per vehicle hour)
  
  • Greater system productivity through effective first- and last-mile connectivity

Beyond the metrics, Metro Micro has had a meaningful impact on riders’ daily lives. According to Jimmy Famolare, Senior Manager of Transportation Planning and Strategic Initiatives at LA Metro, “A lot of the feedback we hear is that this service is a lifesaver.”

Older adults who can no longer drive are able to maintain independence. Riders use Metro Micro to reach medical appointments, grocery stores, school, work, and social activities, all at a public-transit cost. Many riders also describe a more personal, community-oriented experience, building familiarity with drivers and neighbors within their service zones.

“One rider in her mid-80s told us Metro Micro was a lifesaver,” continued Famolare “She can no longer drive, but she’s able to keep her independence, meet friends, and go about her daily life at a reasonable cost.”

Building Toward a More Connected Regional Network

For LA Metro, Metro Micro is a successful, foundational component of a long-term vision for a more connected, adaptive transit ecosystem.

Looking ahead, LA Metro aims to:

• Expand microtransit regionally
• Reduce rigid zone boundaries over time
• Deliver a seamless, one-stop app experience that connects fixed-route, microtransit, and on-demand services

By combining integrated planning, flexible technology, and a strong focus on rider experience, LA Metro and Spare are demonstrating how microtransit can scale sustainably while strengthening the broader transit network. Through close collaboration with Spare, LA Metro has expanded access, improved rider experience, and increased the productivity of its transit network, all while maintaining affordability and operational sustainability.

In one of the most complex urban environments in North America, Metro Micro is helping LA Metro deliver on its mission to connect communities, one trip at a time.

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The story doesn't end here — see how LA Metro strengthened first- and last-mile access across Los Angeles with Spare!