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[KevinKorell]

As of April 8th, I have temporarily pulled down my estimated Costs Page for the Los Angeles area. I believe there were a few statements in there that are no longer true, or may no longer be true by the time of our July trip. Once I better understand the facts associated with the implementation of the TAP card system, I will correct things and reinstate the page. Metro hasn't updated one of their pages explaining DayPasses since part of this plan was supposed to have gone into effect on March 15th. Bottom line: If you had been in the L.A. area in 2008 or sooner, times have changed. Welcome to the TAP Card! Part of this TAP Card system, to my undertanding so far, is that one can no longer ride for free on Metro subways or light rail lines, or Norwalk Transit, when arriving on a Metrolink train, unless they have a multi ride monthly ticket. You also cannot transfer between Red/Purple and Blue at Metro Center without TAPping your card once before EACH ride. Same goes for the Gold-Red/Purple connection at Union Station. The Day Pass it appears must be purchased on a TAP card, but I am trying to verify that as well. I am not sure if one can still purchase an individual ride ticket as proof of purchase, or if one absolutely has to have these TAP cards, which themselves carry a price. I've never been a fan of the Chicago Card, PATCO's Freedom Card, MBTA's Charlie Card, and other railway robbery instruments that they coerce you to buy even when you're a visitor who may rarely or never use that card again. So bringing home a TAP card that I bought in Los Angeles is a souvenir I rather would not like to have. I'd like to be able to get around using them, but if they are a must for the $5 Day Pass, and we buy 3 $5 day Passes for a total $15, the $2 cost for the card won't hurt as much. Less change back from a $20 bill. So allow me some time to get this ironed out for sure, and I'll once again share the findings, whatever they are. If we end up having to purchase a TAP cards and can do so online we should probably do these purchases soon to ensure we get what we paid for back in the mail before we leave in July. If our L.A. area people can clarify this for me a lot more, the sooner I can put the page back up. Thanks,

[GG-1]

The Day Pass it appears must be purchased on a TAP card, but I am trying to verify that as well. I am not sure if one can still purchase an individual ride ticket as proof of purchase, or if one absolutely has to have these TAP cards, which themselves carry a price. I've never been a fan of the Chicago Card, PATCO's Freedom Card, MBTA's Charlie Card, and other railway robbery instruments that they coerce you to buy even when you're a visitor who may rarely or never use that card again. So bringing home a TAP card that I bought in Los Angeles is a souvenir I rather would not like to have. I'd like to be able to get around using them, but if they are a must for the $5 Day Pass, and we buy 3 $5 day Passes for a total $15, the $2 cost for the card won't hurt as much. Less change back from a $20 bill.

Aloha Kevin et all

Don't know to much about the Tap card but at 64 I was able to purchase an "all day pass" for 1.80, the machines, to the left at LA's Union Station had other options.

My plans, other than I expect to participate are still scrambled.

Hope this helps
Eric