Metro EZ pass goes paperless, joins TAP
22 August, 2012
category: Contactless, Smart Cards, Transit
The Metro EZ transit pass, a monthly pass good for local travel on 24 different public transit carriers throughout the Greater Los Angeles region, is planning to go paperless as it leaps onto the TAP (Transit Access Pass), L.A. County’s new fare payment system.
According to blogdowntown.com, starting Sept. 1, EZ pass will be loaded onto the durable plastic card contain a smart chip that enables riders to buy and electronically load Metro passes, participating regional and local transit line passes, electronic cash, or any combination of the three.
Administered by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), TAP serves as an all-access pass to public transport services. Using smart card technology, TAP also makes it easier to replace customers’ passes if they are lost or stolen and also facilitate the renewal of the passes each month.
The TAP smart card has been a work-in-progress for Metro as they’ve attempted to streamline L.A. County’s transit system and convert multiple lines to TAP card usage. For a limited time as this new program rolls out, riders will get a free TAP card when they buy an $84 EZ pass, which costs $35 for seniors, disabled individuals or people with Medicare.
Read more here.