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Downtown DASH to See an Influx of Quarters in 2008

By Eric Richardson
Published: Monday, December 10, 2007, at 11:07AM
Gas Company Tower Eric Richardson []

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Starting January 1st riders of LADOT's DASH and Commuter Express service will no longer be able to use a Metro fare for payment. The , issued Thursday after City Council gave its approval earlier in the week, is the first real outcome from a long back-and-forth between the two transit agencies.

While only five Community DASH lines and Commuter Express had received reimbursement from Metro, LADOT had previously accepted Metro passes on Downtown DASH service as well. Riders using Metro passes accounted for roughly 1/3 of Downtown DASH ridership, costing the city $500,000 - $650,000 annually. LADOT had hoped to get Metro to agree to provide reimbursement for these riders, but instead Metro in September announced its intention to cancel even the existing agreements.

The result is that 2008 is going to see a lot more quarters clinking into the Downtown DASH farebox. 2.6 million Downtown DASH boardings last year were via Metro pass. These riders will now need to either purchase an EZ Transit Pass instead of their typical Metro pass or stick a quarter in the box on boarding.

All the news isn't bad for LADOT. Total Metro reimbursement in FY 2006-07 totaled approximately $760,000. Even just looking at DASH service and its 25 cent fares, LADOT would increase farebox revenue by almost $1.4 million dollars by ceasing to allow the Metro passes. Certainly the change would result in some ridership loss, but it seems certain that the final numbers would result in a net gain for LADOT.

Additionally, charging fares to Downtown DASH riders formerly allowed to ride via Metro passes will allow LADOT to receive an additional $800,000 in county Formula Allocation Procedure (FAP) funds. These are funds divided among transit providers in the county, Metro included. The allocation is done by a formula that includes ridership counts and the cost of a base fare. Since LADOT had no reimbursement agreement for the Downtown DASH pass riders, their free rides did not count toward LADOT's formula funding. LADOT won't see this funding for two years, but given the vast shortfall in Proposition A funding ($200 million over ten years) it will certainly be welcomed once it does arrive.

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Guest 1

Nico on December 10, 2007, at 01:25PM – #1

What?--I could've been showing my Metro pass instead of paying with quarters! I've definitely avoided riding a number of times before because I didn't have a quarter on me at the time. What a frustrating revelation.


Guest 1

Urban Bruin on December 10, 2007, at 02:07PM – #2

It’s unfortunate that we do not have an integrated public transportation system here in Los Angeles. Who would want to buy both a monthly Metro pass and a monthly EZ pass? There are two main reasons for taking public transportation: 1) saving money and 2) saving time. With the later, we know that with waiting for the train (from the point of destination) and then the DASH (which is never on time) you don’t really save much time in comparison to driving (including traffic). So anyone choosing to take public transportation must do so to save money. Now that two passes are needed it’s unlikely the savings will be as dramatic to get people out of their cars.

Another blow to car-less L.A.


Eric Richardson () on December 10, 2007, at 02:24PM – #3

UB: The EZ pass gets you on Metro routes. It's just a bit more expensive than the normal pass.

If you're traveling around the county it's actually a pretty good deal. This mostly impacts day pass use.


Guest 1

Urban Trojan on December 10, 2007, at 05:47PM – #4

So it costs 41 cents to have an ounce of mail carried and delivered across the continent. Now, it will cost a quarter to transfer and get carried across Downtown. A one ounce letter vs. a hundred and ninety pound bi-ped that likely needs more exercise. There simply isn't any justice in this world I tell you!


Eric Richardson () on December 10, 2007, at 06:18PM – #5

Not sure where this is going, but if you assume a DASH trip of two miles that's 6080 oz. miles for $0.25. The letter is only 3000 oz. miles for $0.41. DASH is a far better bargain.


Guest 1

Scott Mercer on December 10, 2007, at 10:26PM – #6

I recommend everybody just bite the bullet and get the monthly E-Z pass from now on. It's only $8 more per month. Still a bargain! In some cities, like D.C., a monthly pass is over $100.

And with the E-Z pass, you get unlimited use of the Big Blue Bus, Long Beach Transit, Norwalk Transit, and other systems. I see more trips to eat at the Long John Silver's in Norwalk looming in my future (is there perhaps a closer location?).


Guest 1

richiec on December 11, 2007, at 08:43AM – #7

i see what Urban Bruin is saying. Organizing trips on public transportation should be more organized and unified. That will help many who would like a less stressful commute to convert if they only had to buy 1 pass that worked on any bus line/railway in LA county.

When I worked in Burbank I would have had to purchase monthly passes with 3 different transportation companies just so I could spend 2+ extra hours commuting to work. These companies should align themselves and take the next step in creating a more efficient, open public transportation system.


Guest 1

Dana Gabbard on December 11, 2007, at 11:11AM – #8

Ah, an integrated transportation system. Nice idea but historical forces make it unlikely. Aftyer 14 years as an advocate for better transit I just thank the gods (and Roger Snoble) that at least we have an EZ Pass! Metro is currently in a "find change under the sofa cushion" mode in re the budget and this is one of the outcomes of that effort. And Metro doesn't even have real control of its own finances thanks to the dysfunctional structure of the MTA Board foised on us by the legislature to keep the politicos and municipal operators happy (anyone want to contemplate the recent FAP revision and its consequences for the 80% of the transit users in the County who ride on MTA?)

Oh, well. Guess I'll just have to have change when I come downtown.


Guest 1

calwatch on December 11, 2007, at 06:33PM – #9

You can keep riding the big buses, although you will have to transfer more. Metrolink customers are not affected. This includes the Metrolink EZ Day Pass, where a one way ticket (between $5.50 and $6 for the cheapest one from Union Station, $4 or so on weekends) is equivalent to a day pass valid on all lines save Santa Monica.


Guest 1

Joel C on December 12, 2007, at 01:39PM – #10

The Monthly Pass is definitely the "lite" version, designed for people who only ride Metro.

For everybody else, the "EZ Pass" should be the default. The $8 price difference is not a lot.


Guest 1

Desert Bruin on December 12, 2007, at 03:48PM – #11

In 1979, we could hop on DASH in front of the Union Bank Building (when Fig was two-way) and get down to a small favored restaurant behind the Brooks Bros. Bldg. on Seventh, for all of a quarter. It still costs only a quarter?


Eric Richardson () on December 12, 2007, at 04:01PM – #12

Indeed it does. DOT has at times wanted to raise fares, but going to multiple coins when you don't offer change is a problem. Expect talk of a fare raise when they join Metro in installing TAP readers.


Guest 1

Metro Local on December 12, 2007, at 08:46PM – #13

It's unlikely this will save the DASH. The presumption is that people riding for free with a pass now will convert to paying fares. What is more likely is that those riders will simply use Metro buses to move around Downtown and avoid DASH altogether.



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