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35-cent DASH fare? There's an app (and TAP) for that
Under a new proposal, riders using a TAP card or LADOT's app would pay 35 cents per ride instead of 50 cents. Seniors and disabled riders would pay 15 cents.
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Riders of Los Angeles' DASH bus service who pay with Metro TAP cards or a mobile app could be paying less for fares if a measure proposed this week is approved by the city council.
Members of the council's transportation committee asked attorneys to draft an ordinance creating new discount categories for the buses, which serve downtown L.A. and surrounding areas.
Currently, regular fare costs 50 cents and 25 cents for seniors and disabled riders. If the ordinance is passed, patrons who use a TAP card or the LA Mobile smartphone app would pay 35 cents; fare for seniors and disabled users would go down to 15 cents a ride.
The measure was outlined in the Los Angeles Department of Transportation's January "Fare Equity Analysis," which stated the proposed fare schedule was "beneficial to all riders of LADOT's DASH services, especially minority and low-income riders."
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The proposed ordinance also includes a $5, seven-day "Rolling Pass." A 31-day pass for students (K-12, college and vocational), seniors and disabled people would cost $9. The regular 31-day pass is $18.
According to the ordinance, ridership is expected to increase by 2.5 million boardings under the new proposal. In a worst-case scenario, revenue would decrease by $2 million.
Ridership went down 31 percent when the regular fare increased from 25 cents to 50 cents in 2011, though revenue went up 34 percent.
Would the lower fares get you do use DASH? Let us know at our Facebook page, Twitter, or in the comments section below.
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