As many of you likely know, Metro’s fare increases and fare changes that were approved this spring go into effect on September 15.

The charts below outline the new fares, including regular fares and passes, Silver Lane fares and the EZ Pass. I urge everyone to give this a read before Sept. 15 as the new structure — with free transfers for two hours — means that some of you could save on your Metro transit trips while others will be seeing an increase.

I also want to emphasize: please click here to see if you are eligible for Metro’s “Rider Relief” fares that provide up to a $10 discount on transit passes. The Rider Relief coupons for seniors and students provide savings on top of already reduced rates. Eligibility is determined by household income and the number of occupants in a household.

Please, please, please — check to see if you are eligible for a discount. There’s no point in paying more than you should and these discounts are available to enhance everyone’s mobility in our region. If you know of someone who may qualify, please pass along this information!

There is also more information on this page about Metro’s reduced fares, including discounts for students, seniors, the disabled and Medicare recipients.

Here are the new fares that take effect Sept. 15:

There is also a comprehensive FAQ that has been posted to metro.net. Please click here to see the entire FAQ.

I have posted some of the questions and answers below that I think will answer many of the questions we’ve been fielding here from readers:

What is the difference between a 1-ride base fare and a 1-way trip?

Both are single fares used to board a Metro Bus. The “1-Ride Base Fare” indicates that the fare is being paid in cash or with a token; no TAP card is required, and no transfers are included. The “1-Way Trip” indicates that the fare is being paid using a TAP card preloaded with a 1-Way Trip product (available at TAP vending machines) or Stored Value on a TAP card. The 1-Way Trip includes transfers to other connecting Metro bus or rail lines for up to two hours to complete a one-way trip; it is not valid for a round-trip. Note that the 1-Ride Base Fare is not available on Metro Rail or the Metro Orange Line; payment of all fares on those lines requires use of a TAP card. (See description of TAP cards below.) Who is eligible for two hours of free transfers? Customers are eligible for transfers when enough Stored Value is preloaded on a TAP card and used to pay the applicable 1-Way Trip fare. The 1-Way Trip is available at varying rates to: regular blue TAP card holders; Seniors 62+/Disabled/ Medicare TAP card holders; Students K-12 TAP card holders; and College/Vocational TAP card holders. How will the free transfers work? The two-hour period begins upon the first boarding of a trip, when a TAP card is tapped to pay the 1-Way Fare. The customer must tap their card upon each subsequent boarding during the trip; the TAP system will recognize if the customer is within the two-hour transfer window and is making a valid transfer covered by the 1-Way Trip. The number of transfers within the two-hour window is not limited; as an example, a customer could transfer from bus line 20 to the Red Line to the Blue Line to the Green Line, all with payment of a 1-Way Trip, as long as the last transfer occurs within two hours of the first tap. But transfers back to the same bus or rail line where the customer’s TAP card was last used are not permitted. For example, the customer may not, transfer from the Green Line back to the Green Line, or from bus line 20 back to Line 20; a new 1-Way Fare would be deducted from the Stored Value on the card. As mentioned, trips lasting longer than two hours can be made on the 1-Way Trip fare, as long as the last transfer is made before the two-hour transfer window expires. Are all student fares frozen? No. Only Student K-12 fares are frozen at this time; their single fare price ($1) and 30-Day Pass ($24) will remain the same. Fares for College/Vocational students are not included in the freeze. The College/Vocational fare (1-Ride Base Fare or 1-Way Trip) is now $1.75, and the 30-Day Pass is now $43. How will transfers work on Metro short lines? Customers purchasing a 1-Way Trip receive two hours of transfers to complete a one-way trip. If traveling on a bus short line, transfers will be permitted from the bus short line to another bus on the same line to continue a trip in the same direction. What about transfers between Metro and other municipal operators (Metro-to-Muni)? Metro fares do not cover other municipal carriers (e.g. Foothill Transit, Torrance Transit, Montebello Bus Lines, etc.), but Metro-to-Muni transfers will still be available. They can be purchased from TAP vending machines or onboard buses, and are valid for two hours after purchase. How will interagency transfers work with the new transfer system? A customer transferring from other municipal bus carriers (e.g. Foothill Transit, Torrance Transit, Montebello Bus Lines, etc.) will need to purchase an Interagency transfer onboard that line, and submit it as payment when boarding a Metro bus or train. Interagency transfers can be issued as paper passes, “Limited Use” paper TAP cards, or loaded directly onto the customer’s plastic TAP card. Regardless of the form in which the Interagency transfer is issued, it is only good for one transfer from a municipal bus line to a Metro bus or train. Interagency transfers are treated as a 1-Ride Base Fare and are not eligible for the 2 hours of transfers on Metro. Customers boarding with an Interagency transfer and planning to ride more than one Metro bus or train should purchase another Metro fare to avoid getting a citation or fine. Do the new fares affect the Metrolink monthly pass? No. These changes only apply to Metro. They do not affect Metrolink tickets and passes that include transfers to Metro. Please click here to see the entire Q&A, which also includes information about the Silver to Silver program, how to get a TAP card and

Here are the new Silver Line fares:

Metro Fares

As of 9/15/14 Regular Senior 62+/

Disabled/

Medicare College/

Vocational

Student K-12 Silver Line Cash Fares 1-Ride Base Fare

No transfers included.Additional charges apply to ride:

• Metro Express Buses $2.50 $1.35

Peak95¢

Off-Peak $2.50 $2.50 On TAP 1-Way Trip

Includes transfers to other Metro Lines for up to two hours to complete a one-way trip.Additional charges apply to ride:

• Metro Express Buses $2.50 $1.35

Peak95¢

Off-Peak $2.50 $2.50 Premium Charge for 7-Day, 30-Day and EZ transit passAll other Metro passes accepted without premium charge. 75¢ — — — Express Freeway Premium Charge Express + Zone 1

Premium Charge

Additional fare required only on freeway segments. 75¢ 60¢ 75¢ 75¢

And here are the new EZ Pass fares:

Metro Fares

As of 9/15/14 Regular Senior 62+/

Disabled/

Medicare College/

Vocational

Student K-12 EZ transit passIncludes:

•All Metro servicesAdditional charges apply to ride:

• Metro Silver Line

• Metro Express Buses

• Non-Metro express buses $110 $42 — — EZ transit pass + Zone 1Includes:

• All Metro servicesAdditional charges apply to ride:

• Non-Metro express buses that leave Los Angeles County $132 $51.50 — — EZ transit pass + Zone 2 $154 $61 — — EZ transit pass + Zone 3 $176 $70.50 — — EZ transit pass + Zone 4 $198 $80 — — EZ transit pass + Zone 5 $220 $89.50 — — EZ transit pass + Zone 6 $242 $99 — — EZ transit pass + Zone 8 $286 $118 — — EZ transit pass + Zone 9 $308 $127.50 — — EZ transit pass + Zone 10 $330 $137 — — EZ transit pass + Zone 11 $352 $146.50 — — For more information about ordering an EZ Pass, agencies that participate in the pass and discounts, please click here. RELATED POSTS Metro Board votes to raise most fares in September but postpones increases in 2017 and 2020 Some audio and video from public hearing on fare changes

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