Translate
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is proposing a simpler pay-as-you-go fare structure where no customer will overpay and frequent riders who rely on the system pay less. Metro invites the public to participate in a hearing on the agency’s proposed fare changes on Monday, November 14, at 5 p.m., to provide community input.
To participate in the public hearing virtually, visit http://boardagendas.metro.net on the day of the hearing. Spanish translation will be provided.
Written testimony can be sent by email to simplefares@metro.net or by mail to:
Metro Board Clerk**
RE: Public Hearing on Metro Fare Changes
1 Gateway Plaza, 99-3-1
Los Angeles, CA 90012
** Written testimony should be postmarked by Nov. 14, 2022.
Metro is proposing a simpler system where no customer ever overpays and our most frequent riders — who rely on the system — pay less. Currently, 83 percent of our riders have household incomes less than $49,000 per year, 78 percent use transit three or more times per week and 73 percent of riders do not have regular access to a car.
These proposed changes will ensure that frequent riders benefit from more free rides. Under the fare capping proposal, one-day, seven-day and 30-day passes would no longer be necessary. These changes are expected to reduce costs for regular riders and would create a pay-as-you-go system.
The proposal will also address Metro’s current transfer policy that offers transfers in one direction for up to two hours. With the proposed changes, once a customer reaches their daily or weekly dollar cap, they can ride in any direction with no time limits. These changes will ensure that frequent riders benefit from more free rides.
The new fare policy creates one equitable discount price for all reduced fare categories and would cap the maximum dollar amount a rider using the TAP system will have to pay. With the proposed fare changes, a regular rider will pay no more than $6 a day or $20 a week for unlimited rides – down from the current $7 daily pass and $25 weekly pass. Fares will increase from $1.75 to $2 — after a rider taps their card three times in one day, they will be able to ride free the rest of the day. If a rider taps 10 times a week, they will be able to ride fare-free the rest of the week. Participants in the Low-Income Fares is Easy (LIFE) program will receive 30 free rides every 30 days, up from 20 free rides today.
The new system will also create a foundation for a single regional fare structure in the future. Although infrequent riders will see a small increase in the cost of their fares, it is expected that the proposed changes will help many Metro riders save money.
The fare changes will not affect students participating in the GoPass, a free-fare program available to students at participating K-12 schools and colleges in Los Angeles County. The proposed changes are expected to provide system-wide support to transition lower-income, seniors and disabled riders into the lowest fare program such as the Low-Income Fares is Easy, GoPass and ACCESS.
To learn more about Metro’s new fare structure proposal, please visit metro.net/simplefares.
