LADOT Transit Fares

Commuter Express Fares

Commuter Express operates on a zone system with fare payment based on how far you travel and how many zones you ride. There are five fare zones, identified as Base and zones 1-4. All Commuter Express 31-Day passes and Trip Tickets are sold on the TAP Card.

Commuter Express routes 142, 431, 437, 438, 534 and Bunker Hill operate in only one zone. Routes 419, 573 and 574 in two zones, routes 409, 422, 448 and 549 in three zones, route 423 in all five zones.

Commuter Express 31-Day Passes and Trip Tickets are sold by the number of zones: Base and 1-4. If you travel in more zones than your pass or ticket, you will need to pay the difference in cash or with stored value (cash) on your TAP card (the difference will be automatically deducted from stored value (cash)). The cash difference is calculated by comparing the one-way cash fare shown on the table for the zone of your pass or ticket with the number of zones you will be travelling.

The EZ transit pass is also sold by zone (Base to 10). The EZ transit pass zones Base to 4 are equal to the Commuter Express zones Base to 4. EZ transit zones 5 and higher are equal to Zone 4 for Commuter Express. If you travel in more zones than your EZ transit pass allows, the cash difference is calculated by comparing the one-way cash fare with the number of zones you are travelling.

Valid Metrolink tickets and passes are equal to the Commuter Express Base fare ($1.50 credit toward the fare).

Commuter Express Transfers

With a Commuter Express 31-Day Pass, transfer to any other Commuter Express bus with no additional fare when the number of zones on the pass are equal to or greater than the zones of travel on the second route. If the number of zones on the second route exceed the number of zones on the pass, the difference will be deducted automatically from stored value (cash) on the card. Otherwise you must pay cash. The transfer procedure when paying with an EZ transit pass is the same as paying with a Commuter Express 31-Day Pass.

The Commuter Express 31-Day Pass also allows you to transfer to any DASH route free.

If you pay with a Commuter Express ticket on the first bus, and you have stored value (cash) on your card, either 25¢ or 10¢ will be deducted automatically when you board the second bus. If you do not have stored value (cash) on your TAP card, you will need to purchase an interagency transfer from the driver with cash to transfer to the second bus. The cost is 25¢, or 10¢ for senior/disabled. The driver will give you a paper Interagency Transfer that you hand to the driver of the second bus.

If you pay with cash on the first bus, purchase an Interagency Transfer from the driver with cash. The driver will give you a paper Interagency Transfer that you hand to the driver of the second bus.

The Interagency Transfer is equal to $1.50 or Base fare, so additional fare may be required on the second bus based on the zone of your destintion.

If you are transferring from Commuter Express to Metro rail, you will need to have a TAP card, pay for the Interagency Transfer with stored value (cash) on the card and have the transfer loaded onto the card by the driver. After paying for your Commuter Express fare, ask the driver for an interagency transfer. The driver will load the transfer onto your TAP card and ask you to tap your card a second time. At the rail station, place your TAP card on the turnstile.

If you are transferring from Commuter Express to Metro bus or a municipal bus line that accepts the TAP card, you can ask the driver for the Interagency Transfer to be loaded onto your TAP card, or pay with cash. If you are transferring to a municipal bus line that does not accept TAP, ask the driver for a paper Interagency Transfer and pay for the transfer in cash.

Purchasing Commuter Express 31-Day Pass, Trip Tickets or Placing Stored Value (cash) on a TAP Card

Purchase a Commuter Express 31-Day Pass, Commuter Express Trip Tickets (20) or place stored value (cash) onto a TAP card at the LADOT Transit Customer Service Center located in the LA Mall in downtown Los Angeles (201 N. Los Angeles, Ste 16), at selected TAP retailers, by phone or on the web.

• If you do not have a TAP card call the LADOT Transit Customer Service Center at (213, 310, 323, or 818) 808-2273, or order on the web at ladottransit.com.
• If you already have a TAP card call 1-866-TAPTOGO or order on the web at taptogo.net

Locate the TAP retailer selling the Commuter Express 31-Day Pass or Trip Tickets convenient to you by calling the LADOT Transit Customer Service Center at (213, 310, 323, or 818) 808-2273, or check to see when and where our mobile sales team will be in your area. Stored Value (cash) can be purchased at any TAP retailer as well as ticket vending machines in Metro rail stations.

When choosing where to buy your Commuter Express pass or Trip Tickets, there are a couple of items to consider:

• Phone and web purchases made at taptogo must be tapped within 30 days of purchase or they will no longer be available. The 31-Day Pass and Trip Tickets must be tapped on a Commuter Express bus while stored value (cash) can be tapped on any bus or at Metro rail stations.
• Phone or web purchases from taptogo require three days for the pass or stored value to be uploaded to the TAP card and recognized on the bus, with the upload completed when you tap the card on the DASH bus.

Paying your Commuter Express fare

If you ride Commuter Express route 142, 431, 437, 438, 534 or Bunker Hill, simply pay your fare in cash or place your TAP card (either side) close to the validator located by the farebox as you board. The validator will indicate by a green or red light if your TAP card has a valid Commuter Express pass or Trip Ticket or EZ transit pass that matches the zone of the Commuter Express route you are riding.

• With a green light take a seat and enjoy the ride.
• If the light is red, please hold the card by the validator again. If the light remains red there is no valid fare on the TAP card. You must pay the cash fare.
• If the light remains red because the zone of the pass/ticket does not match the zone of the route, the validator will show the amount owed. If you have stored value (cash) on your TAP card, it will automatically be deducted. If you do not have stored value (cash) on your TAP card, you must pay the difference in cash.

If you ride Commuter Express route 409, 419, 422, 423, 448, 573 or 574, there is a different procedure when you board the bus. At the beginning of the route the driver sets the validator to the highest zone number for the route, lowering it as the bus enters each new zone. To ensure you pay the right fare, inform the driver of your destination BEFORE you pay in cash or use your TAP card.

• If you are traveling to the last zone on the route and your Commuter Express pass or ticket or EZ transit pass matches that zone, simply place your TAP card (either side) close to the validator located by the farebox as you board. You will get a green or red light as described above.
• If you are NOT travelling to the last zone on the route you must inform the driver your destination PRIOR to placing the TAP card by the validator. This will avoid you getting a red light because the zone on your Commuter Express pass or ticket or EZ transit pass did not match the zone set on the validator. The driver will reset the zone to your destination and after indicating the change has been made you will be able to tap your card by the validator. You will get a green or red light as described above.
• The same procedure must be followed for those who pay with cash or stored value (cash) on their TAP card. Otherwise an incorrect amount may be charged and the driver cannot reverse the charge.

Accepted Fare Media Reference

View document detailing all fare media accepted by LADOT Commuter Express (PDF)

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