Damn Turf Wars!

[Dan Wentzel]

From CBS local news on 6 December 2007:

Metro Passes No Longer Useable On LADOT Buses

Starting January 1, Metro passes will not be accepted as payment on Commuter Express and DASH buses, transit officials announced.

MTA officials informed Los Angeles Department of Transportation officials earlier in the year that the transit agency would no longer reimburse the city for riders who used Metro passes to pay for their fares on LADOT buses.

"There are many Metro pass holders riding on Commuter Express and DASH buses. We share the same service area, so pass acceptance had enabled riders to shift freely between the two systems," said LADOT General Manager Rita Robinson.

DASH routes run in downtown and select neighborhoods throughout Los Angeles. Commuter Express buses run during peak commute times weekdays.

Riders who only use LADOT services have been urged to purchase a LADOT bus pass, which cost between $40 and $99 and may be bought online at ladottransit.com.

Commuters who use LADOT bus lines and any other bus service are urged to buy an EZ transit pass, which costs $70 a month and can be purchased online at metro.net.

Why do we have these different systems anyway? Why can't we have one agency for the entire county and have a regional approach? Part of why we have lousy Valley to Westside service are turf wars between agencies.

Now there's a fare war?

There has to be a better way.

Part of why NYC's subway system seems so random in design is that it was originally three separate systems that were eventually brought under one.

Of course, I directly benefit from the Big Blue Bus being so good. My local bus service under a MTA only system would be much worse.

But it seems the overall needs of the ridership should outweigh any of these silly turf wars.

Turf wars are part of why the Green Line doesn't go from anywhere to anywhere.

[bobdavis]

I've been told that in Switzerland (and possibly Germany) a ticket from Point "A" to Point "B" will be accepted by just about any carrier (including boats) that's going in the same direction. This change in LA transit is definitely a step in the wrong direction! Just like the proposed fare gates/turnstiles for MetroRail, it's hard enough getting motorists to park their cars and ride transit--don't make it any more annoying or difficult!

[tonyw79sfv]

www.ladottransit.com/whatsnew/120707_prMTA.html

It just doesn't make sense how the city and county of LA can't work together. The City of LA is Metro's biggest service area; the best rail line (Red Line) operates only in the City of LA, and DASH interfaces with it and other rail and busway lines. So what does this mean for TAP?

[Dan Wentzel]

It reminds me of the Green Line not going to the airport because of turf.

I sometimes feel we need a Transit Tzar, somone who has the authority to overrule both NIMBYs and ram a solution down the throats of the various agencies if they won't stop squabbling.

The riders need to get first priority. I wish our election officials would something other than cave into NIMBYs or bash transit for their own opportunisms. They need to fix these structural problems in decision making so that the system works.

[bluelineshawn]

I thought that this is where we were headed with the EZ Pass fares anyway. And I thought that I heard that LADOT had decided not to participate in TAP?