Transit Access Pass
Transit Access Pass (TAP) is a smart card fare-payment system for LA County. As a smart card system, TAP cards are capable to store e-cash (stored transit value) and passes depending on agency.
TAP card is accepted by the following agencies. Some offer passes for the card and others only accept stored values for now:
| Provider | Passes | Stored values |
|---|---|---|
| LA Metro | Y | N |
| Culver City Bus | N | Y |
| Foothill Transit | Y | Y |
| AVTA | Y | Y |
| Norwalk Transit | N | Y |
| Santa Clarita Transit | Y | Y |
Contents
Card features
- Riders can use the same card to transfer between different operators
- Riders can purchase passes online.
- By registering the card, a rider can recover the pass or value in case of the card is loss or stolen. $5 replacement fee is required.
Card drawbacks
- Card costs $2
- Two people cannot use the same card
- If the card is not working (not the reader), the rider must pay cash fare
- Stored transit value (e-cash) is not universally accepted and can only be added at selected transit offices.
- Require riders to tap the card at the faregate or reader when boarding Metro Rail each time (and whenever they transfer between lines), even if they already have a valid pass. Failure to do so is subject to citation.
Where to get cards
TAP card costs $2.
How to add pass
Regardless of where you get the card, you can always add value to your card through:
- Online
- Retail locations
- Los Angeles Metro ticket machines at all Metro Rail and Orange line stations - only add LA Metro passes only.
- Onboard LA Metro buses - Metro Day pass only. Ask driver that you want to buy a day pass, put money in, and tap the card on the reader once driver says it is ready.
If you choose to add value through the web site, it would take up to 48 hours for the values to show up on the reader.
How to pay with the card
Simply tap the card on the TAP reader and hold it for a beep.
