On Tuesday, Feb 18, Metro will lock the fare gates in the exit direction at Union Station for the B and D lines, requiring riders to tap their fare cards when exiting. This will be the third station to implement this policy, following North Hollywood and Downtown Santa Monica stations.
The TAP-to-exit policy aims to improve fare compliance and overall safety. Earlier implementations in North Hollywood and Santa Monica have yielded positive results, with a 40% to 55% reduction in public safety complaints from riders. Since the COVID lockdown five years ago, systems like Metro and BART in the Bay Area have faced issues with homelessness, cleanliness, and public safety. BART is spending $90 million to replace gates with more secure ones that are harder to push or climb over.
Since a TAP card is already required to board Metro Rail (except for those with Metrolink tickets), riders can use the same card when exiting without incurring additional charges. Those with Metrolink tickets can exit using fare gates equipped with QR scanners. Metro offers a free 2-hour transfer upon boarding the first bus or train with a TAP card and has a $5 daily maximum fare cap. Metro also has a low-income fare program.
Riders who didn’t tap when entering the Metro Rail system will have fares deducted upon exiting with TAP-to-exit and may still face citations for fare evasion.
Critics of the TAP-to-exit policy argue that locking the fare gates (and blocking the swing gate) could hinder evacuation in an emergency. However, Metro has observed reduced crimes and higher fare compliance. In an emergency, Metro can unlock all gates and use other exits designated for such situations.
Some argue that with proof of payment (a Metro policy despite having fare gates), Metro shouldn’t invest in fare gates that restrict passenger flow and limit access to the system. However, using fare gates as the primary means of fare enforcement is often more effective than relying on occasional human enforcement. Machines can enforce fares consistently before boarding without racial or other biases. In contrast, with uncooperative passengers on board, situations may escalate with human enforcement.