Metro Implements Fare-Capping Saturday, Eliminating Need for Extended Transit Passes

Metro implemented a new “fare-capping” system Saturday that eliminates the need for people to buy one-, seven- or 30-day transit passes, a move designed to make it easier and more economical to ride the agency’s buses and trains.

The base standard fare for Metro buses and trains will remain $1.75. For riders who pay with TAP cards, the base fare will still include two hours of free transfers to other Metro buses and trains, but the total daily fare will be capped at $5. That means a person taking multiple buses or trains throughout the day will stop being charged once they reach the $5 fare limit.

Fares will also be capped at $18 over a period of seven consecutive days, so once a rider reaches that amount within a week, they will ride free for the rest of that seven-day period.

“It’s the goal of the Metro Board to help make things as easy as possible for all Metro riders, and fare capping is a big boon for Angelenos and the city overall,” Glendale City Councilman and Metro Board member Ara J. Najarian said in a statement. “The cost of transit should never stand between L.A. County residents and opportunity — and this new fare policy will make our systems more affordable, accessible, and appealing for every Angeleno.”

Under the new system, fares and caps will be lower for students. The base fare for K-12 students will drop from $1 to 75 cents, while the vocational college student base fare will fall from $1.75 to 75 cents. The student fares will be capped at $2.50 per day and $6 over a seven-day period.

For seniors and the disabled, the base fare remains at 75 cents during peak hours, falling to 35 cents during off-peak hours. Their daily fare cap will be $2.50 and the weekly cap $5.

“Fare capping will save many of our riders money and give them more flexibility,” Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said in a statement. “At a time when Los Angeles residents are paying more for everyday items, Metro is helping them save money on transportation, the second largest household expense on average. This is one of several new initiatives we’ve established to lower transportation costs for riders to make our system more accessible and equitable.”

Metro’s GoPass pilot program that offers free transit rides to K-12 and community college students in participating districts will remain in place until June 2024. The agency also continues to operate its Low-Income Fare is Easy, or LIFE plan, which offers 20 free rides per month and discounted fares to low-income riders on Metro and 13 other transit operators.

More information on the new fare system is available online at metro.net/farecapping.