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Tap into Savings
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) will resume collecting fares on Metro buses beginning Monday, January 10, 2022. To provide financial relief to as many of its transit customers as possible, deeply discounted passes will go on sale beginning in December to transit riders. Those discounts will be eligible from January through July 2022 as a promotional fare.
Specifically, Metro’s 1-Day, 7-Day and 30-Day passes will be half-price for six months. With the discount, pass fares are as follows:
- $3.50 for a Day Pass
- $12.50 for a Weekly Pass
- $50 for a 30-Day Pass
There will be even greater discounts for low-income riders who are eligible to enroll in a regional transportation assistance program called Low-Income Fare is Easy (LIFE). See metroexemplifi.wpengine.com/life for information on eligibility. During the same six-month period, Metro will be offering steeply discounted passes as follows:
- $26 for a 30-day pass that normally costs $76 (a $50 savings).
- $6.50 for a 7-Day pass that normally costs $19.50 (a $13 savings).
Additionally, newly enrolled LIFE participants will get 90 days of free rides starting January 10, 2022, when fare collection restarts. Metro encourages all riders who are qualified but not yet signed up to act now and take full advantage of this program. Discounts translate to less than a dollar a day for unlimited rides on the Metro Bus and Rail System. After the 90 days of free rides expire, customers can purchase discounted LIFE fares.
Until January 10, LIFE riders can still take advantage of LIFE’s discounts on Metro and 12 other participating bus agencies in L.A. County.
“As our communities are still faced with an unprecedented health pandemic that racial and economic inequalities have further exacerbated, providing financial relief with fare discounts to riders is critical,” said Metro Board Chair and Chair of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, Hilda L. Solis. “Discounted fares represent our best effort to support low-income riders who depend on public transit.”
Metro has recently simplified and streamlined the LIFE application for riders. Applications are much easier to fill out and now only take a few minutes to complete. Riders just need basic information about themselves and each member of their household who are applying for a LIFE discount. They can take a photo of each of their IDs with their phone and upload them as part of their application.
If applicants do not have proof of their income, they can self-certify their income on the application.
Additionally, if riders do not already have a TAP card, they can now request one on the LIFE application for themselves and each member of their household.
Metro has launched a LIFE application online portal to enable riders to apply directly on the web at http://metroexemplstg.wpengine.com/life or http://www.taptogo.net/life. Applications are available in both English and Spanish. Riders can click on the “Apply Now” button or link and complete a simple four-step process to complete their online applications. The application is optimized for mobile devices and will allow users to easily upload any needed identification documents.
Riders can submit their LIFE applications to Metro via email. Riders who live in the Antelope Valley, Central Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita Valley, South Bay or Westside Cities can email their applications to https://www.taptogo.net/LIFE_Application_step1. Riders who live in the Gateway Cities or San Gabriel Valley can email their applications to lifeinfo@iilosangeles.org.
Riders who want to hand-deliver their LIFE applications to Metro can do so at any Metro Customer Care Center in Los Angeles County. Click here for a complete list of customer center locations. Applications can also be handed in at the Big Blue Bus’s “Blue: The Transit Store” in Santa Monica.
Fares will be available on Metro TAP vending machines, taptogo.net and at Metro Customer Centers. Metro will also be holding dozens of pop-up events at busy transit stations and community events. Staff will be onsite to help people sign up for LIFE fares.
“We’re making it as easy as possible to help everyone save money on fares, because a little help these days can go a long way,” said Metro CEO Stephanie N. Wiggins. “The LIFE program and half-off fares can help all our riders tap into savings when riding transit in our region.”
In March 2020, Metro relaxed its rule requiring bus riders to use the farebox or TAP validator at the front of the bus as part of its switch to rear-door boardings to help ensure COVID-19-related social distancing between riders and operators. Selected Metro Rail lines such as the B (Red) and D (Purple) Lines, among others, have consistently required fare gate payments via TAP card throughout the pandemic.
Metro reminds all riders that face masks are required on public transit as per federal law.
To obtain more information about all of Metro’s available discounted fare programs, please visit metroexemplifi.wpengine.com/fares.
Editor’s Note: Metro Operators are crucial to keeping LA moving. Metro is currently hiring more than 500 bus operators and is offering a $1,000 bonus for coming aboard. This is a great career opportunity. Metro offers competitive hourly rates starting at $17.75 for part-time bus operators and benefits include health insurance, tuition reimbursements, paid training, retirement plan options and part-time flexible 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.
