After launching a tap-to-exit pilot program at some of Los Angeles’ busiest stations, LA Metro reported a significant decline in the volume of security incidents reported through its Transit Watch app.
The pilot was launched last year in response to concerns about crime and drug use on the transit system’s subway lines, the vast majority of which were linked to those who did not pay to ride.
In its first few months, LA Metro reported a 40% decline of security incidents on the Metro B Line, which runs from North Hollywood to Los Angeles Union Station. Tap-to-exit was initially launched at its northern terminus in North Hollywood before being expanded to Union Station. It was added to the Downtown Santa Monica station on the E Line late last year.
The program requires riders to tap their Metro cards as they arrive at their destination in order to confirm that they’d paid for their fare.
But after concerns were raised by the Los Angeles Fire Department due to potential safety concerns, including the possibility of bottlenecks at exit gates during an emergency, the tap-to-exit program was put on pause in L.A. City while the two agencies worked on a solution.
What happened next, according to a pending presentation to the LA Metro board, was a return to the crime and safety concerns that plagued the B Line before.
Data from an LA Metro presentation shows that Union Station reported a 116% increase in reported security incidents since the tap-to-exit program was suspended in early April. The North Hollywood station saw a 67% increase, according to LA Metro.
Crime data that was provided to the transit agency from the Los Angeles Police Department also showed an increase in “narcotics activity” on the B Line.
But it wasn’t just safety that took a downturn. In the first month after tap-to-exit was paused, revenue collected through fares declined by nearly $35,000 at both stations.
In June, LA Metro says it submitted a “request for modification” with the Fire Department to review and restore the tap-to-exit program at train stations within its jurisdiction.
“Staff are working to provide engineering and architectural drawings of the faregates at NorthHollywood Station to LAFD within 30 days,” the Metro presentation notes.
The current status of those talks between Metro and LAFD are unclear.
Despite the back-and-forth between the two agencies, LA Metro says it still plans to implement tap-to-exit at all of its end-of-line stations, including the new A Line northern terminus in Pomona, which officially opens later this week.
Metro says the program will be put in place as long as it has the support of the Los Angeles County Fire Department which services Pomona and has jurisdiction in the city.
This presentation, which also features data from ongoing pilot programs involving weapons detection, improved faregates, and the Throne Bathroom smart restroom pilot, will be shown to members of the LA Metro operations, safety and customer experience committee on Thursday.
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