Case Study: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) improves budget engagement and shapes FY24 priorities with Polco's Balancing Act

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority uses Polco to drive 1,250 responses on an $8.7B budget

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) faced the challenge of engaging the public in its complex $8.7 billion budgeting process and educating riders on the difficult trade-offs involved in funding transit services. To move beyond traditional surveys and public comments, Metro partnered with Polco to implement its Balancing Act budget simulation tool, aiming to gather more meaningful and equitable input from its diverse ridership.

Polco's solution provided an interactive online simulation that educated participants on budget constraints while collecting their priorities. The engagement garnered 1,250 responses, which were weighted for demographic equity, and over 2,200 comments. The results directly influenced Metro's FY2024 budget, leading to measurable increases in funding, including a $113 million increase for bus and rail service and a $10 million increase for homeless outreach and mental health services, based on the clear priorities identified by the public through Polco's tool.

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)