The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) offers various fare options through the Transit Access Pass (TAP) system. TAP is a reloadable contactless fare card that can be used to pay fares on Metro rail, bus, and other participating transit services in Los Angeles County. There are several types of TAP cards available depending on your needs.
TAP Card Types
Here are the main types of TAP cards:
- Regular TAP Card – This is the standard TAP card that anyone can purchase. It can be loaded with stored value to pay for rides.
- Reduced Fare TAP Card – This card offers discounted fares to seniors aged 62+, people with disabilities, and K-12 students. Eligibility must be verified.
- College/Vocational TAP Card – Offers reduced fares to students at participating colleges and vocational schools. Must show student ID.
In addition, there are special TAP cards for specific programs and services:
- TAP GO-Pass – For businesses and organizations to offer subsidized or discounted transit passes to employees or members.
- TAP Medicare Card – For people with Medicare to ride Metro subsidized by Medi-Cal.
- TAP Low Income Fare is Easy (LIFE) – Offers discounted fares for low-income riders.
Stored Value Fares
If you have a regular TAP card, you pay for rides using the stored value on the card, which can be reloaded at TAP vending machines. Fares depend on the transit service used.
Metro Rail and Bus Fares
Type of Fare | Cost |
---|---|
Regular Base Fare (includes 2 hours of transfers) | $1.75 |
Express/Rapid Bus Upgrade | $0.50 |
Metrolink Transfer | $0.00 |
There are no peak or off-peak fares. Senior/disabled/student TAP cards get a discounted fare of $0.75 for each one-way trip.
Other Transit Services
TAP can also be used on other transit systems in LA County like Culver CityBus, Foothill Transit, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, etc. Fares vary by agency so check with them for details.
Passes
Instead of loading stored value, you can purchase monthly or weekly passes loaded onto your TAP card to cover unlimited rides up to a specified value.
Monthly Passes
Pass Type | Cost |
---|---|
Regular Monthly Pass | $100 |
Senior/Disabled/Student Monthly Pass | $20 |
College/Vocational Monthly Pass | $43 |
The regular monthly pass offers unlimited rides up to $100 in value on Metro bus and rail. Senior/disabled/student passes offer unlimited rides up to $20 in value. College student passes offer $43 in unlimited value per month.
Weekly Passes
Pass Type | Cost |
---|---|
Regular 7-Day Pass | $25 |
Senior/Disabled/Student 7-Day Pass | $6 |
The regular weekly pass is valid for 7 consecutive days and offers unlimited rides up to $25 in value on Metro. The reduced fare weekly pass offers $6 in unlimited rides for seniors/disabled/students.
EZ Transit Passes
EZ Transit Passes are monthly passes valid on more than just Metro trains and buses. There are two types of EZ Passes:
- EZ Pass: Includes Metro rail/bus plus 14 other transit services. Costs $110/month.
- EZ Transit Pass: Includes Metro rail/bus plus 50+ transit services. Costs $120/month.
EZ Passes offer greater convenience and value for utilizing multiple transit services across LA County. However, regular monthly passes may be cheaper if you just ride Metro frequently.
Metrolink Passes
Special Metrolink monthly passes can be loaded onto your TAP card to ride the Metrolink regional commuter rail lines at a discount. These include:
- Metrolink Monthly Pass – Unlimited trips within a specific region for $150-200/month depending on region.
- Metrolink 10-Trip Ticket – Valid for 10 one-way trips within a region for $38-50 depending on region.
- Metrolink Weekend Day Pass – Unlimited systemwide rides on Saturday and Sunday for $10.
This provides frequent Metrolink commuters, weekend travelers, and others an economical option for regional rail travel.
TAP Mobile App
TAP can also be used through the TAP Mobile App on Android and Apple smartphones. You can pay for single rides using stored value or passes and use mobile tickets.
Mobile Ticket Types
- Single Ride: $1.75 valid for 2 hours.
- Day Pass: $5 for unlimited rides in a 24-hour period.
- Stored Value: Load value to pay for multiple trips.
The main advantage of using the mobile app is convenience if you don’t want to carry a TAP card. However, physical TAP cards offer better discounted fares and passes.
Low Income Fare Options
Metro offers discounted or free transit for low-income riders who qualify:
- LIFE Program: Provides low-income riders with free or reduced fare loaded on a LIFE TAP card.
- EBT Card: Riders with California Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards can ride Metro buses and trains for $0.75 per trip.
Low-income seniors and disabled riders can qualify for both the LIFE program and reduced senior/disabled fares. Students with family incomes below poverty can get discounted TAP cards.
Conclusion
In summary, TAP offers a wide range of fare options through stored value, passes, and discounted fares on its reloadable transit card system. Key types of TAP cards include:
- Regular TAP Card
- Reduced Fare TAP Card
- College/Vocational TAP Card
- Special Program TAP Cards (GO-Pass, Medicare, LIFE)
TAP provides flexibility and convenience for riding Metro rail and bus services, as well as connectivity to many other transit providers across LA County. Features like stored value, weekly and monthly passes, EZ Passes, and mobile ticketing give riders choices to find the best fares and value.