Fares

Metro Silver Line runs between the Harbor Gateway Transit Center and the El Monte Station. Metro Express busses run between South Bay and Downtown Los Angeles. Both bus services run primarily on freeways, therefore special fares apply.

 

• Off-Peak hours include weekdays 9am - 3pm and 7pm - 5am; weekends and Federal holidays.
• Metro bus operators do not carry change. If using cash, please have exact fare when you board.
• Two children under age 5 may travel free with each fare-paying adult on bus or rail.
• Eating, drinking or smoking is not permitted in Metro stations, buses or trains.

Warning: Failure to pay the proper fare is violation of Section 640 Penal Code and may result in a fine up to $250 and 48 hours community service.

The EZ transit pass is a monthly pass good for local travel on 23 different public transit carriers throughout the Greater Los Angeles region.

All EZ transit passes are sold on plastic TAP cards loaded with an electronic EZ transit pass. You can tap your card on any system that accepts TAP. Simply have your EZ transit pass fare loaded onto your card and remember to tap before boarding.

EZ Pass “Zones” refer to fare levels.  Here is a complete list of participating EZ Transit Pass Agencies and an indication of which zone fare level is needed for your trip. Below that you will find a breakdown of ZONE fare levels.  It is the participating Municipal transit agencies that determine their fare levels so it is best to contact these agencies directly to confirm which zone pass would best serve you and at what cost (direct links included).  EZ passes are available at Metro Customer Centers or at over 400 vendor locations near you.

Transit agencies that accept EZ transit pass and their ZONE fare levels:

Note:  Lower zones accepted with an upcharge unless otherwise noted
¹  Pk - Peak Hours: Monday - Friday, 4:00 AM - 10:00 AM -AND- 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM
²  OffPK - Off-Peak Hours:  Monday - Friday (Inluding Federal Holidays), 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM -AND- 8:00 PM - 4:00 AM
³  Foothill Express only accepts Z5 or higher for valid fare
⁴ GTrans (Gardena) 1X service to DTLA requires Z1, Base EZ is sufficient for all short services

Senior 62+/Disabled/Medicare riders:

To get the EZ transit pass at a reduced rate, you must have an orange Reduced Fare TAP card. To apply in person, go to any Metro Customer Center. To apply by mail, submit the senior/disabled application with the required documentation.  

Go Metro with TAP

All Metro passes and Stored Value are sold on TAP, a durable plastic card you can use again and again. It’s eco-friendly, because using TAP eliminates tons of disposable paper passes and stamps.

Each TAP card has an electronic chip inside; just load the type of pass and Stored Value you want on your card, and the chip remembers it. Then you simply tap your card each time you board, and the bus farebox or rail validator looks for the valid pass first. If no valid pass is found it will deduct from your Stored Value.

See the TAP User Guide at right.

How to TAP

On Metro buses: Upon boarding, communicate with bus operator if you have insufficient Stored Value, a pass for fare, require an upcharge, or need assistance.
Otherwise, simply tap your card on the farebox’s TAP target.  A “beep” and message will show the bus operator your card is valid.  Remember, you must tap your card each time you board; you may not simply show it to the operator.

On Metro Rail trains and the Metro Orange Line: Locate the station validator or turnstile as you approach the platform and tap your card on the TAP target. Remember, you must tap your card before boarding; it is not valid unless you do.

Turnstiles are located at some Metro Rail stations. At these stations, tap the validator on the right side of the turnstile before you pass through.

If your trip requires more than one train (i.e., changing from the Red Line to the Blue Line), you must tap the validator again at the station where you change trains. Always have your TAP card handy as fare enforcement officers with handheld validators may ask to verify that you have tapped.

Failure to load valid fare on your card or tap the farebox or validator before boarding could result in a $250 fine.

For additional information, check the links to the right, or call 866.TAPTOGO (866.827.8646).

Note: TAP cards are $2 at TVMs, aboard buses and at over 400 vendor locations and must be sold with a pass.

Transit Agencies that use TAP

To ride from one transit carrier to another, we recommend loading Stored Value. TAP cards loaded with Stored Value can be used on any of the systems below. Make sure to TAP your card each time you board and the correct fare amount for each transit carrier will be automatically deducted from the Stored Value loaded on your TAP card. Loading a Metro Pass is only valid on Metro bus and rail.

• Access
• Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA)
• Baldwin Park Transit
• Beach Cities Transit
• BurbankBus
• Carson Circuit
• City of Monterey Park Spirit Bus
• Compton Renaissance Transit Systems
• Culver CityBus
• Foothill Transit
• Glendale Beeline
• GTrans (Gardena)
• Huntington Park Transit Unlimited
• LA County Department of Public Works
• Long Beach Transit
• Los Angeles Department of Transportation – DASH/Commuter Express
• Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA / LAX Flyaway)
• Metro
• Metrolink
• Montebello Bus Lines
• Norwalk Transit System
• Palos Verdes Peninsula Transit Authority
• Pasadena Transit
• Santa Clarita Transit
• Santa Monica Big Blue Bus
• Torrance Transit

Special Reduced Fares

Metro's Reduced Fare Programs enable eligible applicants to obtain special TAP cards and purchase reduced-rate monthly passes. As a reduced-fare rider, you are automatically signed up for free Balance Protection so you won't need to worry if your card is lost or stolen.

Apply online now for a Senior, Disabled/Medicare, College/Vocational or Students (K-8 and 9-12) or click on the links below for more information.

• Senior
• Disabled/Medicare
• College/Vocational
• Students (K-8 and 9-12)

Transportation Subsidy Programs

Metro also offers other transit subsidy programs to eligible Los Angeles County residents.  Find out more:

• Low-Income Fare is Easy (LIFE)
• Immediate Needs Transportation program
• LA County Transit Subsidy Program
• City Subsidies

 Employer Annual Pass Program

Metro offers two types of annual reduced rate group passes through the Employer Annual Pass Program. These are low-cost and affordable options available to all types of businesses. Find out more about group rates and how you can join: 

• A-TAP & B-TAP programs

There have recently been some changes to TAP vending machine options:

• Stored Value can be added in any amount
• You can now buy multiple TAP cards loaded with a Metro 1-Day Pass
• You can now purchase EZ transit passes at TVMs.
• Paper transfers are no longer available. Transfers must be purchased with Stored Value loaded on a TAP card.

Click on the links below to view a step by step tutorial on these, and other options.

• New! Buy an EZ Transit Pass
• New! Buy multiple TAP cards loaded with Day Passes
• New! Load Stored Value in multiple increments
• New! Transfer with Stored Value
• Buy a Regular TAP card with Stored Value
• Buy a Regular TAP card with a Day Pass
• Buy a Regular TAP card with Full Fare 1-way Trip
• Reload Day Pass on a Senior Reduced Fare TAP card
• Reload Senior Fare 1-Way Trip on Reduce Fare TAP card
• Reload Stored Value on a Senior Reduced Fare TAP card