Photo by waltarrrrr via Flickr.

Let’s face it: there’s a lot of confusion when it comes to Metro’s TAP (Transit Access Pass) program. Customers, bus operators, municipal agencies and even Metro all seem to have pertinent questions when it comes to the cards.

Some of that, admittedly, has involved the promotion of the TAP cards. Promotional copy found on the TAP website calls for TAP to become a “transit fare wallet” – an easy-to-use card that holds passes and cash and allows riders to pay their fare electronically on buses and trains across L.A. County.

The card, according to Metro officials, is still a work-in-progress. If the reader email and tweets we receive is any indication, customers still have questions about how and when the cards will fulfill such promises.

Metro staff in charge of TAP recognize this and admit that implementation has been more complex that anticipated. In many ways TAP has proven to be a challenge that encompasses almost all the sticky issues facing public transit – there are still customer, operator, capitol, revenue  and regional issues involving the card. But Metro’s goal remains to make the TAP program as good as possible.

With this in mind, we would like to answer some of your questions involving the TAP cards. Shoot your questions and comments to thesource@metro.net. No rants please!