Over half a million metro-area residents are eligible for a program that would
dramatically cut their cost to ride Metro Transit buses, express buses and light
rail, all day, every day.
Sadly, only a fraction of the people who could be saving money with a Transit
Assistance Program (TAP) pass are currently enrolled.
The TAP pass drops the fare price that eligible users pay to just $1 for any ride.
“Public transit is very affordable, but every penny counts, so TAP is a great
program for people,” said Andrea Kiepe, Transit Assistance Program coordinator
for Metro Transit.
The base adult fare on Metro Transit buses and light rail is $2, rising to $2.50 for
rush hour fares; Express Bus adult fare is $2.50 and rises to $3.25 during rush
hour. With a TAP pass added to a Go-To Card, riders to pay $1 for any of these
Metro Transit rides, complete with a 2 1/2 hour transfer.
The savings are loaded on their Metro Transit Go-To Card, which riders use
when getting on the train or bus.
“What they use looks like any Go-To Card; nobody knows when they use it that
they are getting the $1 fare,” Kiepe said.
Unlike some programs available to lower income people, Metro Transit has
designed TAP to be easy to apply for, allowing applicants to begin accessing the
transit savings quickly.
“We hear about people who learn about TAP when they’re on the bus or train,
look it up on their phone and have the application filled out in two minutes.
Everyone in their household is ready to go and will get the savings,” Kiepe said
People can enroll online, uploading their photo ID and one of the dozens of
documents that Metro Transit accepts, like an EBT card, Medical Assistance
card, or affordable housing voucher. The full list of documents can be seen at
Metro Transit partners with 140 local nonprofit organizations and service
agencies that also administer the program and distribute the cards.
The TAP pass provides a year-long reduced fare pass on a Go-To Card. Users
can add value to the TAP pass in various ways, including by paying online with a
credit card, paying by mail with a credit card or check and using cash or a credit
card at a rail ticket machine or at Transit Facilities.
People can apply for TAP benefits in person at the Burnsville Transit Station, 100
Highway 13, Burnsville, the Minneapolis Metro Transit Service Center, 719
Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis, the St. Paul Metro Transit Service Center at US
Bank Center Skyway, 101 E. 5th Street, St. Paul and the SouthWest Transit
Station, 13500 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie.
“We know there are thousands of people who are qualified for TAP and could be
using it every day to save money,” Kiepe said. “We want be be sure that people
know this is an option that can help them stretch their budget.”