City Council Urges MTA to Bring Back Monthly Bus Passes
The Los Angeles City Council Wednesday called on the county transit agency to resume issuing monthly bus passes for the general public, saying the decision creates a “severe hardship” for some riders.
“Failure to resume providing general monthly bus passes will pose a severe hardship on many of Los Angeles’ most disadvantaged residents who rely completely on public transit,” Councilwoman Rita Walters said in her motion.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority recently stopped selling the $42 passes because Chief Executive Officer Frank White said they were a money-loser and open to abuse. The passes were easily counterfeited, and some pass-holders abused the program by boarding buses 100 times a month, White said.
The MTA board also decided to stop selling special passes for college students. Student passes will be available only for pupils at elementary and high schools and may be used only during weekdays. The MTA also raised the regular bus fare from $1.10 to $1.35 effective Sept. 1. But riders can still purchase 90-cent tokens at some stores.
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