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The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) has extended its half-price transit pass discount program from July to December 2022 to provide additional economic relief for Metro transit customers.
Metro’s regular 1-Day, 7-Day, and 30-Day passes have been discounted 50 percent since January 2022 in the agency’s efforts to help its riders, many of whom are essential workers and disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 related economic losses. These special discount passes will remain in effect until December 31, 2022. With the discounts, a Metro Day Pass will cost $3.50 instead of $7, a Weekly Pass will be $12.50 instead of $25, and a 30-Day Pass will be $50 instead of $100. Customers can also pay for one-way, individual fares, but these fares will not be offered at the half-price discounted rate.
“We fully recognize that our Metro riders continue to require financial assistance as they try to recover from the effects of this lingering pandemic,” said Glendale City Councilmember and Metro Board Chair Ara Najarian. “With gas prices just now retreating from all-time highs, it remains imperative that we offer everyone a highly affordable transit alternative as we continue to explore new ways to save our customers fare money over the long term.”
Metro decided to adjust permanent full-fare pass prices to promote affordability and incentivize customers to purchase unlimited-use passes. Staff will use the information gathered during the promotional period to develop recommendations for pricing options for future full-price passes that include break-even points that are more in line with industry standards and are financially sustainable for current and future Metro Transit operations.
Metro’s half-price passes have the added benefit of encouraging customers to use their TAP card as their fare payment in lieu of cash. Customers that pay with TAP cards also benefit from free Metro transfers, access to discounted fares and balance protection.
Since Metro launched its half-price pass promotion last January, the passes have become increasingly popular. Nearly 50 percent of Metro riders using TAP are now choosing to buy passes, compared to just 25 percent purchasing passes back in 2019 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We remain focused on our goal to make Metro the first choice for transportation in and around Los Angeles, which means we need to keep it accessible and remove barriers to entry, while taking steps to better understand the needs of our customers,” said Metro CEO Stephanie N. Wiggins. “The extension of the discount pass program allows us to continue to grow our ridership by offering equitable access, while also supporting development of our strategies to deliver public transit services that exceed our customers’ expectations.”
Discounted pass fares are available for purchase at TAP vending machines, Metro Customer Centers, TAP retail vendors throughout L.A. County, on the TAP mobile app and taptogo.net.
Metro has even steeper discounts for eligible low-income riders who enroll in the Low-Income Fare is Easy (LIFE) regional transportation assistance program. For additional information on LIFE program eligibility, please visit metroexemplifi.wpengine.com/life.
Metro also offers free rides to students at participating K-12 schools and community colleges through its GoPass program. More than 4.7 million rides have already been delivered through this program, and Metro aims to deliver 10 million more free rides to students before the end of this fiscal year. For additional information on the GoPass program, please visit metroexemplifi.wpengine.com/riding/fares/students-k-12/gopass/.
To obtain more information about all of Metro’s available discounted fare programs, please visit metroexemplifi.wpengine.com/fares.
Note to Editor: Metro Operators are crucial to keeping LA moving. Metro is currently hiring more than 500 bus operators and is offering a $3,000 bonus for coming aboard. This is a great career opportunity. Metro offers competitive hourly rates starting at $20.49 with benefits that include health insurance, tuition reimbursements, paid training, retirement plan options and flexible working hours. Please encourage friends, family and community members to become a part of the Metro team that provides excellence in service and support and keeps our region moving. Apply at metro.net/driveLA.
About Metro
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is currently providing lifeline service for essential trips and frontline workers. Metro continues building the most ambitious transportation infrastructure program in the United States and is working to greatly improve mobility through its Vision 2028 Plan.
Metro has proudly pledged to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Health and Safety Commitment Program to help ensure the safe return of transit riders as the U.S. recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stay informed by following Metro on The Source and El Pasajero at metro.net, facebook.com/losangelesmetro, twitter.com/metrolosangeles and twitter.com/metroLAalerts and instagram.com/metrolosangeles.
