Metro Brings Tap to Exit Program to Santa Monica

Metro Los Angeles officially announced that expanded its Tap to Exit pilot program to Santa Monica, aimed at reducing fare evasion with the purpose of increasing passenger safety.

Metro’s Tap to Exit pilot program at its North Hollywood B Line station is expanding the program to all 10 end-of-line stations, Starting this Tuesday, September 3 at the Downtown Santa Monica Station on the E Line.

“What we have seen, statistically, is that Approximately 90% of people who commit a crime in the system did not have a swipe card and they didn’t pay their fare,” said Metro’s senior manager of system security and enforcement, Carlos Rico.

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“Therefore, this It is a proactive tool so that we can address crime in the system,” Rico added.

In a statement, Metro Los Angeles said that in less than two months, North Hollywood Station’s pilot program transformed behavior at all 14 B Line stationsand reported crimes and other problems, such as fights, drug use and graffiti, decreased by more than 40% on the Transit Watch app.

According to an ongoing survey of North Hollywood commuters, 91% showed that the pilot program made the station feel cleanerand 86% said it made them feel safer.

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With the Tap to Exit program, all Metro passengers must tap a fare card to board a bus or train, and It also requires passengers to tap their payment cards again to exit the station.which provides another guarantee that they are paying the fee.

The pilot program was originally released in May 2024.

Metro officials have described the pilot program policy as an effort to boost compliance with fare payment requirements.

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The dissemination of the program extension began on August 22with the distribution of 25,000 multilingual brochures, comprehensive coverage by Metro Ambassadors, TAP Blue Shirts to assist with fare loading, as well as representatives from Metro’s Low-Income Fare is Easy (LIFE) program to register income-qualified riders for a spot.

The education period remains until September 10, and after this date Fines could be issued to passengers caught evading payment of fares.

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For those who did not use their TAP card when boarding the transport, The fare will be automatically deducted from your card when you tap it at the exit.

According to Metro Los Angeles, There are similar programs in other systemsincluding Bay Area Rapid Transit, Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority and Metropolitan Atlanta Regional Transit Authority.

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