How to Pay to Ride the Metro A Line
Sep 29, 2025Author:David-Earl Russell, LA Metro
Once you’ve had a chance to try the A Line, you’ll want to keep riding.
This guide covers all you need to know about prices, types of tickets, and changing between Metro and other rail and bus systems.
Here’s a high-level overview:
- Cost of a ride
- Regular, one-way ticket: $1.75
- Kids under 6: free with an adult.
- Students: Many ride free with a school GoPass or U-Pass.
- Discounts: Seniors and others pay less.
- TAP card or app
- You need a TAP card (plastic card) or the TAP app (on your phone).
- A TAP card costs $2, and then you add money to ride.
- Buy one at station machines, places like 7-Eleven, or on the app.
- Free transfers
- One ticket is good for 2 hours of free rides on other Metro trains or buses (if you use your TAP card).
- Example: Ride the A Line, then switch to another Metro train or bus without paying again.
- Daily & weekly max (“fare capping”)
- Once you pay $5 in a day, all other rides that day are free.
- Once you pay $18 in a week, the rest of the week is free.
- Other agencies
- Metro = main LA trains and buses.
- Foothill Transit = separate buses (transfer costs 50¢).
- Metrolink = long-distance trains (not free if you start on Metro).
That’s it!
Want more details, examples, and videos?
Keep reading below for the full guide, which covers:
- How much does it cost to ride the A Line?
- What is fare capping?
- What is the EZ Transit Pass?
- How much does it cost to transfer between buses or trains?
- How do I buy a ticket to ride the A Line?
- How do I use TAP to ride the A line?
How much does it cost to ride the A Line?
- Regular, one-way price: $1.75
- This includes two hours of free transfers on Metro rail and bus lines when you pay with a TAP card. (Scroll down for more information on transfers.)
- Children under age 6 may travel free with a fare-paying adult on bus or rail.
- Discount fares are available. Click here for more information.
- For example, the one-way fare is $0.75 for seniors 62+, Medicare recipients, and customers with disabilities.
- You must apply to get a discount TAP card:
Many students ride free with these programs:
- The GoPass program for K-12 and community college students.
- The U-Pass program for university students.
Click here for more information on using the A Line to get to the eight different college and university campuses close to the A Line (between Pasadena and Pomona).
Click here for more details on Metro fares.
What is fare capping?
When you pay for Metro rail or bus rides with a TAP card, there is an automatic “cap” on how much you will pay in a single day, or over seven days. Fare capping does not work with cash.
Here’s how it works:
- Add money to your TAP card (scroll down to learn how to do this).
- Use your TAP card to pay for a one-way trip on Metro rail or bus.
- After you pay for 3 rides (or $5) in one day, the rest of your rides for that day are free.
- Also, after you pay for 11 rides (or $18) over a seven-day period, the rest of your rides for that week are free.
Think of this like a daily allowance: once you’ve paid $5 in a day, the rest of your rides are free. Same idea for a week—once you’ve paid $18, the rest of your rides that week are free.
This “cap” does not apply to Foothill Transit or Metrolink trips.
For example, if you add $18 to your TAP card (scroll down to learn how to do this), you can ride Metro rail and bus as much as you want.
Click here to watch a short video about fare capping.
What is the EZ Transit Pass?
The EZ transit pass is a monthly pass that allows unlimited travel on 23 different public transit carriers throughout the Greater Los Angeles region.
The monthly fares are based on "zones." The cost depends on how far you’re traveling—the more zones, the more. The EZ transit pass price ranges from $100 to $352.
All Metro rail and bus services and Foothill Transit buses are included in the EZ transit pass (Foothill Transit requires a Zone 5 or higher pass). Metrolink is not included in the EZ transit pass.
Click here for more information on the EZ transit pass.
How much does transferring between the A Line and other trains and buses cost?
Transfers allow you to switch from one bus or train to another.
Metro runs the A Line trains. Foothill Transit is a different bus company. Metrolink is a train that goes farther, to other cities like San Bernardino.
How much does transferring from the A Line to other Metro trains and buses cost?
It is free when you pay with a TAP card.
Tickets on the Metro A Line include two hours of free transfers on Metro rail and bus lines when you pay with a TAP card.
For example:
- You buy a regular one-way ticket for the A Line train for $1.75. (Scroll down for more information on how to do this.)
- You use your TAP card to get on the A Line train from San Dimas to Union Station.
- At Union Station, you use your TAP card to get on a B Line (red) train to Hollywood. There is no additional charge for this ride (within two hours of the first use of your TAP card for that trip).
Scroll down for more information on TAP.
How much does it cost to transfer between Metro and Foothill Transit?
Foothill Transit also uses TAP cards.
The Foothills Transit regular, one-way price: $1.75
- Up to two kids age 5 and under ride free with each paying adult.
- Discount and bulk fares are available. Click here for more information.
Note: Prices are higher for Foothill Transit Commuter Express buses.
If you use a Foothill Transit bus and the Metro A Line for your trip, you will "transfer" from one to the other. If you use a TAP card, this transfer costs 50 cents (25 cents for seniors).
For example:
- If you use a TAP card to (1) get on a Foothill Transit bus for a ride to the Metro A Line Glendora Station, and then (2) you get on the Metro A Line to ride to Pasadena:
- You will pay $1.75 for the Foothill Transit bus ride, and
- You will pay $0.50 (50 cents) for the Metro A Line ride.
Click here for more details on Foothill Transit transfers.
How much does it cost to transfer between Metro and Metrolink?
- From Metrolink to Metro is free. Click here for more.
- From Metro to Metrolink is not free. You must pay separately to take the Metrolink train. Click here for more information on Metrolink tickets and prices.
How do I buy a ticket to ride the A Line?
Paying to ride the A line is fast and easy with the “TAP” system.
There are two ways to use the TAP system:
- Get the TAP app 📲 for your phone; use your phone to take the train or bus.
- Get a physical TAP card 💳; use the card to take the train or bus.
📲 THE TAP APP FOR YOUR PHONE
How to get the TAP app for your phone:
Click here for TAP app frequently asked questions.
Using the TAP app is easy:
- Click here to watch a short video on how to use the TAP app for iPhone.
- Click here to watch a short video on how to use the TAP app for Android.
💳 PHYSICAL TAP CARDS
Physical TAP cards are plastic cards that look like a credit card.
A TAP card costs $2.00. This is the cost of just the card itself.
You must add money to the TAP card before you can use it to ride trains and buses.
Where to buy and add money to a physical TAP card:
- At any of the four new A Line stations (at a TAP vending machine).
- At a "TAP vendor" location, such as Walgreens, 7-Eleven, and libraries.
- Call TAP customer service: 866.827.8646
Click here for more options on places to buy and add money to a TAP card.
How do I use TAP to ride the A Line?
When you get to one of the new A Line stations,
- Step 1: Arrive 10 minutes early and wait for your train to arrive
- Step 2: As you pass through the validator, tap on dial with TAP card and enter the platform
- Step 3: Stand behind the yellow line and wait for the train to make a complete stop. Let others exit before entering. Take a seat or use handrails/handholds
- Step 4: Enjoy the ride
- Step 5: Watch and listen for your stop. As you get closer to your destination, move towards the exiting doors. Wait for doors to open and exit, make sure you have all your belongings.
