Transit Access Pass
 |
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| Location | Los Angeles County, California |
|---|---|
| Launched | 2007 (soft launch) 2008 (monthly passes) 2009 (day passes) 2011 (cash purse) |
| Technology | |
| Operator | Cubic Transportation Systems |
| Manager | Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority |
| Currency | USD |
| Validity |
|
| Website | http://www.taptogo.net |
The Transit Access Pass (TAP) card is a form of electronic ticketing used on most public transport services within Los Angeles County, California.
It is administered by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), the card and fare collection systems are manufactured by Cubic Transportation Systems. Metro staff manage the web site and provide customer support functions.
The TAP is a blue, or orange for reduced fare, credit-card-sized contactless stored value smartcard which can hold a Metro Pass. The TAP card must be tapped on electronic readers when entering and transferring within the system to validate it. TAP readers are integrated in bus fareboxes and standalone readers are located just outside the paid area of Metro Rail stations. Because Metro Rail has a mix of barrier free and faregated areas, it operates on a proof-of-payment system: as such, Metro's fare inspectors randomly check to make sure TAP users have validated their card by using a wireless handheld unit. The cards may be "recharged" in person from ticket vending machines in Metro Rail stations, at Metro Customer Service Centers or online. The card is designed to reduce the number of transactions at Customer Service Centers. The card costs $2 (or $1 from TVMs) and is only available with a fare media product (such as a day pass or stored value). Cards can also be purchased on Metro buses for $8 (since 15 September 2014), which include a day pass. TAP cards expire approximately 3–10 years from purchase.
Currently Metro only sells monthly passes on the TAP web site, and sells monthly, weekly, and day passes at rail ticket vending machines. Stored value (cash purse) can be added onto the TAP card at rail ticket vending machines, retail locations, and online. Non-Metro agencies may sell transfers on TAP cards, which can be read by Metro TAP readers. For non-Metro operators, TAP cards are sold at their administrative offices or customer service centers.
There are many agencies in Los Angeles which do not accept the TAP card. Transit agencies have been allowed to transition onto TAP at their own pace, and it is not a requirement for receiving Metro funding or participation in interagency transfer agreements. As a transition to full county-wide implementation of TAP, EZ transit passes are sold on TAP cards with a sticker denoting the month, for verification on non-TAP systems.
Prior to introduction of the TAP card, a magnetic stripe card called the Metrocard (not to be confused with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority's card) was introduced in 1993 on Culver CityBus, with later expansion to Foothill Transit, Montebello Bus Lines, Norwalk Transit, and Santa Monica Big Blue Bus. The fare card only offered stored value, and was compatible with GFI Genfare fareboxes used by these systems. The program was dubbed the Universal Fare System, or UFS, for future implementation throughout Los Angeles County. Later innovations expanded the magnetic stripe technology for monthly and day passes.
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