Here’s a list of ticket machines selling TAP cards and stored value

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Attentive readers know that earlier this year Metro began selling TAP cards and stored value on those cards at ticket vending machines at some Metro Rail stations.

Since there are more than one ticket machine at the stations, look for the ones with the green Metro placard on top with the drawing of a hand holding a TAP card. It’s the machine on the right in this photo.

Because we get frequent inquiries from readers about the location of those machines, please find an updated list of the 22 Metro Rail locations where the TAP cards are being sold after the jump. For more info on TAP cards, click here.

TAP & Ticket Vending Machines

Now you can buy a TAP card in 22 Ticket Vending Machines throughout Metro Rail.

New cards are $2.00 and must be loaded with a valid pass or cash value.

Locations:

Blue Line

* 7th St/MetroCenter (Blue)

* Compton

* Del Amo

* Florence

* Grand

* Imperial/Wilmington (Blue)

* Willow

Gold Line

* Sierra Madre Villa

* Union Station (Gold)

Green Line

* Norwalk

Red Line

* 7th St/MetroCenter (Red)

* Hollywood/Highland

* Hollywood/Vine

* North Hollywood(Red)

* Pershing Square

* Union Station (Red)

* Union Station (Red)

* UniversalCity

* Vermont/Sunset

* Westlake/MacArthur Park

* Wilshire/Western

Categories: Technology

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15 replies ›

  1. I tried to buy a TAP card at 7th St Metro Center last Saturday. The only TVM that sells TAP card on the Blue line level could not process credit card (broken reader I suppose).

    I gave up in frustration and bought a paper day pass from a regular TVM.

  2. That does indeed clarify it thanks. (I accidentally posted as my gamer name LOL) But yeah, Its good that I can load 10 or 20 dollars because last time I went to the orange line and the red line I could only add a pass.

    We do really need to integrate our transit systems the way the so many other sucessful systems have like MBTA boston, RTA in illinois, SEPTA Philadelphia, MTA new york, there is a reason those systems work well and transfers are more sensible. For some reason the Western US in general has this common problem of fragmented transit agencies in the metropolitan areas. I don’t really understand why that is but it really needs to change.

  3. Wouldn’t it be easier and cheaper to have the ability to top-up our TAP cards online using a credit or debit card instead of installing fare machines across every station and bus station out there?

    San Francisco’s Clipper Card uses the same Cubic system which allows me to do this. Hence when I have a trip to San Francisco every month, I can check my balance online, top it up when it’s low and stride my way through BART and Muni without ever visiting an adjustment machine. Even better, the Clipper Card has an auto-recharge function tied to my Mastercard which if by any chance I forget to do so, it automatically tops it up when it falls below a certain amount.

    • Hi Yumi;

      Yes, TAP card users will be able to add stored value online. We should have more info soon about when that feature will be available.

      Steve Hymon
      Editor, The Source

  4. @konartistex360

    This issue of day pass vs cash value came up in the original thread listed in this post. I copied the authors response from that thread.

    At this time, the TAP system won’t automatically buy riders a day pass if they take four or more rides on Metro a day — also known as “price capping.” However, riders can use cash stored on their TAP cards to buy a day pass when boarding a bus (ask the bus operator for a day pass) or from a ticket vending machine.

    Why no price capping? It’s a technical issue involving how a TAP card stores different amounts of money. Think of the side of the TAP card that holds cash as a single purse. Rides on all transit agencies are deducted from this one purse. In order to isolate Metro boardings, another purse would need to be created on the TAP card. And if other agencies wanted to do the same, they would also require their own purse. And that becomes tricky from a technical basis.

    Metro officials say the single best way to get to price capping is for all the transit agencies in L.A. County to agree on a regional day pass. There has, of course, been a lot of talk about a regional fare structure, but it has been difficult to accomplish, due in part to the fact that many agencies in the county have different fare structures that would have to be reconciled.

    Hope that answers your question,

    Steve Hymon
    Editor, The Source

  5. To: konartistex360
    Yes, “stored value” means that you can put in cash ($10, $20, etc.) and when you TAP your card at a validator (bus or rail), the amount for a single ride is deducted. The problem is that the card still doesn’t know that when you reach the “day pass” limit, it should stop deducting money for that day. Moreover, while you can load both day passes and “stored value” onto the same card, when you TAP a validator, it’s going to use the day pass first. This means that the benefit of being able to load multiple day passes onto your TAP card is negated because if you just want to take one or two rides in a day, for example, you’re going to be charged for a day pass. The first problem is a simple programming change and I’m surprised that Metro didn’t implement it from the beginning (well, not really — it is Metro, after all). On a happier note, I was pleased to see that for Senior TAP cards, the deduction does seem to follow the non-peak fare rules.

  6. Wilton makes a good point. Also, no machines on the entire Gold Line Eastside? ALL machines should be able to do this? And why can’t I add money online?

  8. This is definitely progress, but your job isn’t done until you’re got this at every rail station and every major busway station.

    If you’re selling something (transit rides) you need to do everything you can to make it easier for people to buy your product.

    New York City still has you beat on the convenience of acquiring a fare card, and they give ’em away for free.

  9. I’m not sure I understand what Erik G.’s complaint is.

    Except for Willowbrook, 7th/ Metro, and Union Station, most stations are only served by one rail line.

    At Union Station, it’s not like anybody is going to walk down to the mezzanine of the Red Line, buy a ticket and then walk back up to the Gold Line? Would they?

    Or if you’re getting off the subway, what’s the big deal about waiting until you get to the Gold Line to buy the next ticket?

  10. I think they are slowly integrating them into all TVMs but its just taking a while. But yeah, whats the deal with having to load a week, month, or day pass. Does “stored value” now actually mean that Metro is allowing a user amount to be added to the card without the need for it to be a pass? Because I am really unclear about whether metro has any plans to even do that (which they really need to!!!) If someone could clarify that would be great. Being able to just TAP and have it deduct per ride would be a lot easier for sometimes-riders.

  11. I’m often puzzled by some of the decisions Metro makes. If you’re going to put TAP-dispensing machines on the Green Line, why, why, WHY would you not put a TAP-dispensing machine at the Aviation/LAX station for the tourists? (Who unfortunately get a great first impression of our public transit system from the Green Line airport “connection”.)

  12. I still don’t understand why Metro cannot equip all of their machines to do this, aside from the fact that forcing people to have to buy weekly/monthly passes so will make Metro more money.

    It’s otherwise confusing to tourists, new riders, and those that don’t happen to read The Source.

  14. Steve,

    Why are fare machines (TVMs) at the same station “assigned” to a line anyways? Why should it matter if I buy a ticket from the TVM in the tunnel by tracks 1 and 2 (i.e. the Gold Line) at LAUS or from the TVM in the mezzanine of the Red/Purple Line? I should be able to buy a ticket at the first machine I pass in a station and that ticket should real “Union Station”! Period!

    (As it is, the Normandie and Western station TVMs still hand out “Red Line” tickets, AFAIK.)