page_title: Metrolink (California)
section_title: Governance
hierarchical_section_title: Metrolink (California) / Governance
caption_attribution_description: Los Angeles Gateway Plaza, Metro Authority Office
context_page_description: Metrolink is a commuter rail system in Southern California consisting of seven lines and 62 stations operating on 534 miles of rail network.
  The system operates in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties, as well as to Oceanside in San Diego County. It connects with the Los Angeles County Metro Rail and Metro Busway system, the San Diego Coaster commuter rail and Sprinter light rail services, and with Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner, Coast Starlight, Southwest Chief, Sunset Limited, and Texas Eagle intercity rail services. Metrolink owns several hundred miles of rail; however, it also shares some track with freight trains.
  The system, founded in 1991 as the Southern California Regional Rail Authority and adopting "Metrolink" as its moniker, started operation in 1992. Average weekday ridership was 42,928 as of 2017. It is operated by Amtrak under contract with the SCRRA.
context_section_description: The SCRRA is a joint powers authority governed by five county-level agencies: the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Orange County Transportation Authority, the Riverside County Transportation Commission, the San Bernardino Associated Governments, and the Ventura County Transportation Commission. Ex officio members include the Southern California Association of Governments, the San Diego Association of Governments, and the state of California. 
  Metrolink's headquarters at one time were in the MCI Center. By 2000, Metrolink had expanded its lease in the MCI Center by 6,700 square feet (620 m²), giving the agency a total of around 40,000 square feet (3,700 m²) of space. In June 2011, Metrolink moved its headquarters to the MTA Building, where the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) is also headquartered. Metrolink then moved to the Wilshire Grand Center in 2018 along with the Southern California Association of Governments. The move was precipitated by LACMTA requiring more space in the MTA Building.
  In 2014, an internal report suggested changes in the railroad's governing structure as the conflicting demands of the various agencies are difficult to meet. The report proposed turning the operation over to a local transit agency.
caption: The MTA Building, where Metrolink was headquartered between 2011 and 2018
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