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August
23, 2002 |
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First Regional
EZpass goes on sale
(Los Angeles) - Life is
about to get easier for thousands of users of public transit as Los
Angeles County's first regional transit pass goes on sale this Sunday,
August 25. The Regional EZpass will enable frequent users of multiple
systems to board MTA's Metro buses and trains and the buses of 11
municipal operators with a single 'passport.' The Regional EZpass is
priced at $58 for a regular monthly pass, $29 for seniors, and $29 for the
disabled (with appropriate identification including either an MTA Disabled
ID card, Medicare card, LACTOA card or DMV placard). The Regional EZpass
does not replace the individual transit passes of the 12 participating
operators which will continue to be available. "The Regional
EZpass will greatly simplify the commutes of riders who use more than one
of these systems on a regular basis," said Hal Bernson, MTA Board
Chair. "Users of the Regional EZpass will no longer need transfers or
to carry extra cash or purchase additional transit passes. The Regional
Ezpass really is easy." The Regional EZpass is
good for unlimited travel on the Metro Bus and Rail systems, including the
Metro Red, Blue and Green lines, and on the fixed route systems of the
following 11 municipal bus operators: Culver City Municipal Bus Lines,
Foothill Transit, Montebello Bus Lines, Gardena Municipal Bus Lines,
Commerce Municipal Bus Lines, Long Beach Transit, Norwalk Transit, Santa
Monica's Big Blue Bus, Torrance Transit, Santa Clarita Transit and LADOT
(Los Angeles Department of Transportation). The 12 transit systems operate
a total of 386 bus lines and serve nearly 31,000 bus stops. The multi-operator task force that developed the Regional
EZpass will encourage the future participation of other local transit
providers, Metrolink and other counties. The cost of the program for
fiscal year 2003 will be approximately $2 million, which will be paid from
Proposition A and C local transit sales tax funds. The Regional EZpass
represents the first major phase of a universal fare system (UFS). Within
three years, MTA will debut an electronic smart card that will be accepted
by the aforementioned transit providers, Metrolink and paratransit service
provider MTA-074 |
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