Steve White () on May 19, 2011, at 09:23AM – #1

Absolutely, these should be "7-day" and "31-day" passes rather than weekly and monthly. Makes sense especially for visitors and tourists!

I'm also think the prices need to come down just a little. A monthly pass should present savings to a transit commuter who travels to work and back every weekday. Right now, it only presents savings to a commuter who has to make at least one transfer, therefore having 3-4 boardings per weekday instead of 2.

() on May 19, 2011, at 09:44AM – #2

This is a huge and welcome change. It will also increase Metro use by visitors and tourists.

crystal on May 19, 2011, at 10:04AM – #3

I'd like to see a discount for buying in chunks as well. Say 10, 20 rides at a time, now that we can just add money to the TAP cards.

I'm not frequent enough for a monthly pass but would still like to see a small incentive to use it more often.

Todd Lacey on May 19, 2011, at 10:05AM – #4

Why wouldn't they just let you load the card and use it as you like, subtracting the fare every time you TAP. When the account gets low, you get an email to replenish the $$. I don't ride enough to require a monthly or weekly pass; however, I'd sure like the convenience of not having to stop at the machine and just use my TAP.

rob on May 19, 2011, at 10:09AM – #5

they should also consider taking a page from Metrolink, and offer something like a 10 trip pass. It would be a benefit for those who board metro 2 times a day. a weekly pass is $20 however, boarding metro twice a day 5 days a week is only $15.

John Swartz on May 19, 2011, at 10:23AM – #6

When is METRO going to start having turnstiles where you have to enter your card before entering the subway?

Probably only 10% of riders actually pay for their tickets in the first place because its on the honor system. Either deliberately, or perhaps accidentally, such as tourists who just may not know any better. I've probably only been checked 5 times out of 500+ times riding the subway.

A turnstile system like in SF, Chicago, NYC, etc would greatly increase the revenue due to riders actually being forced to pay, it would decreased confusion of new riders, and it would reduce the need for paying sheriff's officers to stand and check tickets.

I still think its peculiar why this wasn't thought of when they were initially building the system. Its way more expensive to implement a system like this after the system has been built than work it into the design.

Thomas K Nagano on May 19, 2011, at 12:28PM – #7

I have a "Senior Pass" that must be renewed on September 30, 2011, with new application and photograph.

Question? Do I get younger as I age?

or are they just trying to get seniors to spend more money and time from their limited budget and keep Metro/MTA people busy with meaningless work.

Thomas "TK" Nagano

Chris Loos on May 19, 2011, at 12:36PM – #8

John- I agree that they need turnstiles, and that it would cut down people riding without paying. But saying that only 10% of people pay is nonsense. I'm guessing probably 95% of people pay.

Anecdotal evidence: I rode the Purple line into work today, and they did a security check between Vermont and Western. The car I was on was packed- maybe 80 riders. I didn't see a single one get cited for not having a ticket, pass, or transfer.

Downtowner on May 19, 2011, at 12:51PM – #9

@Todd has it right. Cities like NY, Chicago, London, etc. have cards that you can "fill-up" as needed. I mostly use tokens, because I only ride Metro once or twice a week. But a pass would be preferred.

Another change I'd like to see is dropping MTA's "one ticket/one ride" rule. In the aforementioned cities, the first ride is full fare, and a transfer to another bus or train line is only a nominal charge.

Rich on May 19, 2011, at 02:19PM – #10

You guys realize they have the cash purse implemented now? You can add cash value to your card and use it as a "debit" card, which subtracts $1.50 per ride on buses and trains when you tap. I find this immensely valuable and makes Metro much more convenient. You can add it at most subway stations, some light rail stations, or online at taptogo.net.

Now I'd like the system to be able to turn your taps into an automatic day pass if you tap more than 4x a day. Once you implement that, it will be an awesome system. I really appreciate the progress made on the program recently.

Mario Teran on May 19, 2011, at 03:43PM – #11

I have a few issues with Metro. I sometimes feel like I'm the only one that purchased a ticket on the train. How about using turnstyles? The other thing that bugs me, is that you can only use one ticket per line. In NYC you can use the same token to transfer to various trains in the system. In LA if you purhcase a ticket at Pershing Square, then change from the Red to the Blue Line at the 7th Street metro station you need to buy another ticket. That's riduculous. If 2 people want to go round trip from DTLA to Pasadena, that means Red and Gold line. That's $12.00 round trip. I might as well take my car and burn more fossil fuel, but save money in the long run.

To sum up. If you have turnstyles you'll collect more money, and then you won't have to force the rest of us to purchase more then one ticket when changing lines.

Brigham Yen on May 19, 2011, at 03:46PM – #12

Rich, I agree with you on that. The TAP system only works well if it keeps track of how many times you use it in a day. If you use it more than 4 times, it should not subtract from the credit on the TAP card (making it essentially an ALL DAY pass). As it stands right now, if you tap it 5 times, you'll be charged 5 times, which is $7.50.

Brian Tompkins on May 19, 2011, at 03:50PM – #13

50 rides in 30 days at a discount to the "monthly" pass is the best option for regular commuters that I've seen in the cities in which I've ridden transit. This just about covers your "to and from" five days a week for the month, but if you need to use it more, no problem, you just by a new fill when you run out. I just figured the current system was typical of how things are done here. Make it work and that's good enough. Make it good? Well that's to much work.

John Swartz on May 20, 2011, at 09:35AM – #14

@Chris Loos - Well, my 10% was an exaggeration for conversation...

Day-riders seem to pay for the most part. But, when I ride it at night, it doesn't seem like anyone has tickets.. and there never seems to be anyone checking tickets at night when they need it most.

on May 20, 2011, at 09:52AM – #15

Well, they went to all that trouble and expense to put in turnstiles so I do hope they get used soon. There was something about getting rid of paper tickets and going entirely to TAP cards for even single rides; I guess that's when the turnstiles will come into real use. Seems like a waste of a lot of plastic when other cities' turnstiles read paper tickets, though.

Metrolink is going to be getting rid of their 10-trip ticket strips as of July 1st. Pity; they are going to be giving student discounts on single rides from that day onward, though, as well as a lower fare for weekends, and there are a few other changes.

I'm glad to hear about the cashpurse option. Very good for people who are not transferring from one line to another so the full day pass is a waste of money but it's inconvenient to have to dig for $1.50 each time.

Chris Loos on May 20, 2011, at 10:27AM – #16

@John Swartz

Fair enough. I tend to ride during the day, so I never see how it is at night.

on May 25, 2011, at 04:10PM – #17

Metro knows how many people are paying, because they are running spot checks and giving out tickets to people who don't pay.

The rate has been pretty steady on the honor system since MetroRail started, about 3% on a good day to about 5% or 6% on a bad day, are freeloaders who didn't pay.

That's not that much. Putting in turnstiles doesn't change that rate too much, they cost us $100 million in tax money, they were a waste of time, and they aren't even turned on.

The problem is that people don't understand this and turnstiles give people a phony sense of "security."

Spike N LngBch on June 08, 2011, at 08:55AM – #18

Funny. How many times have you been to SF and used BART or NY and used the subway. You pay a specific amt of $$, you get a paper card, each time you use it deducts (in the case of BART the amt depends on the travel distance), if you need to put more on it's easily done. However when METRO comes up with there TAP card, it is one big boondoggle. Just watch tourists attempting to purchase a ticket from one of the rail stations, then the confusion when they walk up to the turn styles and there is no where to put the ticket.