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SR 10-25-2016 3D Ci ty Council Report City Council Meeting : Oct ober 25, 2016 Agenda Item: 3.D 1 of 5 To: Mayor and City Council From: Edward King, Director , Big Blue Bus, Planning & Community Engagement Subject: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Elimination of Interagency Transfers Recommended Action Staff recommends tha t City Council: 1. Adopt the proposed changes to the Metro Policy on Use of Interagency Transfers (IATs); and 2. Adopt the Title VI Equity Evaluation and Findings on the proposed transfer policy changes, conducted by Metro staff on behalf of the Los Angeles Cou nty region . Executive Summary Los Angeles County’s municipal transit operators are now on TAP (Transit Access Pass), the region -wide smart card program. As a result, Los Angeles County Metro politan Transportation Authority (Metro), adopted a new transfer policy , which will require a customer to make inter -agency transfer s (IAT) only by using a TAP card. The new policy will eliminate paper IATs , which Metro anticipates will speed up boarding and reduce fraud. As required by Federal Law, a fare equity an alysis was completed by Metro staff on behalf of the Los Angeles County transit operators to review the proposed change in transfer policy. Implementation of the IAT change would take place in March 201 7 . City Council action is requested to adopt the propo sed changes on the use of IATs in Los Angeles County and approve the Title VI Equity Evaluation. 2 of 5 Background The TAP Program is a countywide smartcard based fare collection system that is managed by Metro. All major Los Angeles C ounty transit providers , including Big Blue Bus (BBB), participate in the program. Big Blue Bus currently participates in TAP by offering customers the ability to use the following fare products loaded on to TAP: a Metro EZ Transit Pass, an IAT , stored cash value , or any Big Blue Bus period pass. In FY 2015 -16, 17% of Big Blue Bus trips were completed with a TAP card. Currently, when Big Blue Bus customer s need to use more than one transit system to get to a destination they purchase an IAT for $0 .50 to complete the ride. C ustomer s buy the IAT on the first bus , then give it to the Motor Coach Operator on the second vehicle for fare payment . IATs are valid for two hours from the time purchased. Discussion On June 25, 2015, the Metro Board of Directors adopted the following cha nges to the IAT policy: 1. Transfers between Los Angeles County transit operators will only be allowed using a TAP card. The change would allow agencies to eliminate paper transfers for customers who transfer within Los Angeles County. 2. Transfer fare charges will be deducted from the TAP card upon the second boarding. Customers will no longer be required to purchase a transfer on the first boarding; instead the transaction will happen on the second boarding . The customer would simply tap for both boardings. T he base fare would be deducted on the first vehicle and the transfer fare would be deducted on the second vehicle. Revenues are expected to remain unchanged as most riders who now transfer will continue to make two -way trips , in both the AM and PM commute times . 3 of 5 3. The transfer window will be extended from two hours to two -and -a -half hours. The extra 30 minutes is given out of consideration for increased traffic congestion in the region and the distance of some routes. 4. Provide for a single interagency transfe r within the transfer window. There are several benefits to the policy change , including: 1. Reduce s boarding time – Under the new policy, the customer would not need to purchase an IAT from the Motor Coach Operator. The transfer would happen automatically upon making the transfer boarding , which will speed up boarding for all customers and reduce vehicle dwell time. 2. Simplif ies transferring – Restricting IATs to TAP cards eliminates the need to carry exact change to purchase a transfer as the transfer charg e will be deducted from the stored value of a customer’s TAP card . 3. Promot es the use of TAP – Restricting IATs to TAP cards promotes the use of TAP cards, which will increase the efficiency and security of revenue collection by reducing cash handling requi rements . 4. R educ es fraud – Proof of payment for IATs is currently provided to customers in the form of a paper transfer by an operator. The operator punches the date and time that the transfer will expire , or the farebox issues a date - and time -stamped trans fer ticket . Paper transfers are relatively easy to pass on to another customer, duplicate or resell. Transfers on TAP are not susceptible to such forms of fraud. In addition, the TAP card can be registered for balance protection, allowing the TAP card bala nce to be restored, should the card be lost or stolen. Once the program begins, if a customer pays a cash fare and does not have a TAP card to purchase an IAT they will pay a separate base fare when they board the second transit system . As a result, Big Blue Bus is working with Metro and the other Municipal Operators to ensure that customers are aware of the change in policy well before it is implemented in March 201 7 . Big Blue Bus staff is preparing a marketing plan which would provide BBB customers and community stakeholders with the information explaining the policy change. 4 of 5 Fare Equity Analysis Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects persons from discrimination based on their race, color, or national origin. Under the Title VI program , trans it agencies may be required to complete a fare equity analysis when there is a change to any fare, regardless of the amount of the increase or decrease. The analysis determines whether such a change will have a discriminatory impact based on race, color or national origin, and whether any identified disparate impacts can be mitigated. The fare equity analysis must be approved by the governing board of the transit agency prior to the implementation of the changes. The change to the regional IAT policy is co nsidered a fare change. The F ederal T ransportation A dministration permitted Metro to complete the fare equity analysis on behalf of the Los Angeles County transit operators who participate in the IAT program. The governing board of each of the transit oper ators must approve the fare equity analysis in order to meet the fare equity analysis requirement without having to conduct individual analyses by each transit operator. The fare equity analysis resulted in a finding that the proposed change results in a disparate impact to customers located within specific areas of the county. These areas of the county are served by Antelope Valley Transportation Authority, Foothill Transit, City of Gardena G -Trans, Montebello Bus Lines , and Torrance Transit representing a group of 800,000 individuals that do not currently have a TAP card and are not within walking distance of a place to obtain one. Metro’s analysis concludes that while there is a disparate impact resulting from the changes to the regional IAT policy, th ere is legitimate justification for the changes and there are no alternatives that would have a less disparate impact on minority customers. To address the finding, Metro has approved the distribution of up to one million TAP cards free to customers purcha sing transfers in advance of the effective date of the policy. Big Blue Bus will participate in the distribution of the TAP cards to its customers that may otherwise not have easy access to a TAP retail outlet . 5 of 5 Big Blue Bus and Metro are working together to increase the number of locations where customers can purchase fare products and load passes. Within the BBB service area , customers can use the BBB Transit Store, TAP v end ing m achines at Expo Line stations , Ralph’s Supermarkets in Santa Monica, West Los Angeles and Pacific Palisades, check cashing stores in Westwood and Venice, and the TAPTOGO.net website. Metro is in discussions with Santa Monica College and Santa Monica Place to locate TAP machines in their facilities. BBB is also working with Metro to install TAP t icket v ending m achines at Pico/Rimpau Terminal and LAX Lot C Bus Terminal where many of our customers transfer systems . While BBB will be promoting the use of the TAP card for all transactions on the bus, c ash will still be accepted to pay f or base fares. Financial Impacts & Budget Actions There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the recommended action. Prepared By: David Feinberg, Transit Government Relations Officer Approved Forwarded to Counc il Attachments: A. Attachment A - Proposed IAT Policy B. Attachment B - Title VI Evaluation of TAP -Based IATs AT T A CH M ENT A Propos e d Chang e s t o the Poli c y on the Use of I n t e r -A gen c y T r a nsf e rs In a n e f f o rt t o p r o mo t e s eam l e ss t ra v e l f o r t h e pub l i c, an d in re s pon s e t o s t a t e T DA l a w , incl ude d a n d e l ig ible m un ic i pa l o pe r a t o rs a n d t h e L A C T M A e st a b l i sh t h e f o l l o w ing re v ised i n t e ra g en cy t ra n s f e r p o l i c y : A tran s fer t hat a rider r ecei v es fr o m one bus s y stem or M etro R ail line w i l l be acce p ted by other b us s y stems or M etro Rail l i nes for se g ments o f a o ne -w ay continuous tr i p t hat the rider m a k es w ithin a t w o -hour per io d o n a ny one d a y . For s y st e ms h a v ing d e si g nat e d tr a n s fer p o i nts, t h e i n tera g ency tr a n s fer w i l l only be acc e pted at the s e points . A rid e r sh a ll rec e i v e o n e t ra n s f e r b e t w ee n b u s s y st em s o r M e tro R a il l i ne s o p e rat e d b y d i f f e re n t a g en cies w it h i n t w o an d o n e -ha l f ho u rs o f pa y m en t o f a b a s e f a re. If t h e p e rson is t r an s f e r r ing t o e x p ress o r pr e m i u m s e r v ice, th e o p e rat o r w i l l f o l l o w tha t s y st em ’s po l i cy abou t c ha r g ing a n a d d itio n a l f a re f o r t h e e x p ress/p r em i u m s e r v ice. T h e rider may use the same tran s fer for all tran s fer s e g me n ts, u nl e ss the r e c ei v ing opera t or has a pol i cy to col l ect tran s fers from board i ng pass e n g ers. In t hat e v ent, t he bus o pera t or w i l l pro v ide t he pass e n g er w ith a n ew intera g ency tran s fer u pon pa y m e nt o f t h e in t e ra g ency tra n sfer fare. I f the pers o n is tran s fer r ing to e x press or pr e mi u m ser v ice, the ac c epting opera t or w i l l f o l l ow that s y stem ’s pol i cy abo u t char g ing an additi o nal fare for the e x press/premi u m ser v ices. Fares for in t era ge ncy transfers are dete r min e d by the iss u ing transit s y stem. T ra n s f e rs sh a ll b e m ad e a v a i l ab le t o c u s t o m e rs as f o l l o w s: T AP c a r d ho l d e rs sh a ll au t o m a tic a l l y rec e i v e on e t r a n s f e r , i f a pp l i c a b le, u po n b o a rding t he ir s e c o n d bu s o r tra i n w it h in t w o an d o n e -ha lf h ou rs. F a res f o r t h e T AP i n t e ra g en cy tra n s f e r a re d e t e r m in e d b y th e a cc e p ti n g tra n sit s y st em . AT T A CH M ENT B T AP -B a s ed I nt e r a g e n c y T r a n s f ers M a y 2 0 15 T i t l e V I E v a l u a t i o n – P a ge 1 Title V I E v a lu a tion Repl ac e m e nt of E x i s ting In t e r a gen c y Tr a n s fers W ith T A P -Ba se d Meth o d T h is is a T itle V I e v a l u a ti o n o f t h e r e p lac e m e n t o f c u r r en t me t h od s o f p ro v idi n g I n t e ra g en cy T ra n s f e rs (I A T s) w ith a T A P -ba s e d me t ho d . T h e a f fe c t e d o pe ra t o rs are t ho se Lo s An g e les C o un ty f i x e d r o u te s e r v i c e p ro v id e rs t h a t rec e i v e s o m e f o rm o f f o r mu l a o pe rati n g s u b s idy f rom t h e L o s An g e l e s C o u n ty Me t ro po l i t a n T ra n s p o rta t i o n A u t h o r i ty (M e tro)(Tab le 1 ). Tab l e 1 Los An g e l e s Cou n ty Formula Funded Fi xe d Ro u te O pe ra t o rs A n t e l o p e V a l l e y G a rd e n a Nor w a lk B ea ch Cities T ra n sit Lon g B e a ch S an t a Clar i ta Cul v e r C i t y Lo s A n g e les D O T S an t a Mo n ica Fo o t h i l l T ra n sit M e tro T o r r an c e M on t e b e l l o For th is e v a lu a ti o n t h e Uni v e rse o f po t en t i a l l y i mpa c t e d pe rs o n s is a ll pe rso n s w it h in one -q ua rter m i l e o f an y bu s s to p s e r v e d b y on e o r mo re o f t h e a b o v e o p e rat o rs, a n d /o r w it h in on e -ha l f m i l e o f an y rail st a ti on . E t h n ic da ta f o r t h is p o pu l a ti o n is ob t a in e d f r o m t h e 20 1 0 US C e n s u s, an d H ou s e ho ld I n c om e d a ta f o r t h is po p u la t i o n is o b t a i n e d f r o m t h e 20 0 6 -2 0 1 0 Am e r i c a n C o n s u me r S u r v e y (ACS). Be c au se th e C e n s u s d a ta is p ro v id e d a t t h e b lock g ro u p l e v e l, a n d t h e ACS da t a is a t t h e t ra c t l ev e l t h e si z e o f t h e i mpa c t e d p o pu la t i o n i s sl ig h t l y g re a t e r f o r t h e ACS d a ta (bl o ck g ro u p s tha t a re mo re t ha n o n e -q ua rter m i l e from a bu s s t o p w ou ld b e e x clu d e d f r o m t h e Ce n s u s da t a , b u t c ou ld b e i n cl u d e d in th e A CS da t a i f t h e t ra c t c on t a i n ing s u ch b lock g ro up s w a s wit h in t ha t o n e -q ua rter m i l e of a b u s s t op ). For re fe re n c e p u rp o s e s th is e v a lu a ti o n w i l l r e f e r to t h e E t h n ic p opu l a ti o n a s t h e T itle VI da t a , a n d t h e H o u s e h o ld I n c o m e p o pu l a ti o n w i l l b e r e f e r r e d t o a s t h e E n v i r onme n t a l J u stice d a t a . T h e T itle VI p o pu l a ti o n c on sists o f 9 ,6 4 8 ,7 9 8 p e rso n s o f w h o m 6 ,8 2 6 ,7 2 5 a re m i no r i ti e s (7 0 .8 %). T h e E n v i r onme n t a l J u stice p o pu la t i o n c on si s ts o f 9 ,7 42 ,48 1 pe rso n s o f w ho m 1 ,5 3 1 ,4 8 8 a re li v ing in hou s eho lds be low th e f e d e ral l y de f in e d P o v e rty inc o m e l e v e ls (1 5 .7 %). E v a lu a tion M e t h odo l o g y T h e U n i v e rse o f p o t en t ially i mpa ct e d pe rs o n s ha s b ee n d e f i n e d a s e ss en ti a l l y a ll pe rso n s w h o c a n w a lk to f i x e d ro u t e t r a n sit. U nde r cur re n t me t ho d s an y pa ss en g e r AT T A CH M ENT B T AP -B a s ed I nt e r a g e n c y T r a n s f ers M a y 2 0 15 T i t l e V I E v a l u a t i o n – P a ge 2 de si r ing a n I A T m a y pu rch a se it a t t h e t i m e t ha t t he y b o a rd a bu s, o r at a rail s t a ti o n a t t h e t i m e t h a t t h e y pu r c ha se t he ir rail ticke t . In o rd e r t o b e u n a f fe ct e d b y th e i n tr o du ct i o n o f T A P -b a s e d I A T ’s a pa ss e n g e r mu st s t i l l b e w it h in w a l k ing d ist an c e o f t h e me an s t o pu rch a s e t h e I AT b e f o r e ta king t he ir t ra n sit r id e . O t he r w ise, a pe rs o n w ou ld b e ad v e rsely a f f e c t e d b y th e n e w m e t h od . T h e me c h an ics o f t h e p ro po s e d IA T p ro c e ss re q u i r e tha t t h e pa s s e ng e r h a v e a T AP c a rd w ith a c a sh pu rse ho ldi n g s u f f ic i en t v a l u e t o pu rc h a se a n I A T . S u ch a rid e r w ou ld pa y the ir i n itial f a re b y w ha t e v e r mean s t he y no r m a l l y u se (eit he r a c a sh d edu c ti o n f r o m t h e T A P c a rd pu rs e , o r th e u se o f w ha t e v e r p a ss is s to r e d o n t h e T A P c a r d ). W he n t h e tra n s f e r boa rd i n g o cc u rs, t h e c o st o f t h e t r a n s f e r w ou ld b e d e b it e d f rom t h e TAP c a rd pu rse. T h e rel e v a n t f a ct o rs f o r t h is e v a lu a ti o n a re 1 ) doe s t h e rid e r h a v e a T A P c a rd, o r n o t, an d 2 ) can t h e rid e r a d d v a lue t o t h a t T AP c a r d t o en s u re t h e a b i l ity t o pa y f o r t h e t r ip . T h e a b i l ity t o ad d v a lue t o a T A P c a rd a d d s a n a d d itio n a l le v e l o f c o mp le x ity t o th is e v a lu a ti o n – s o m e o f t h e f i x e d ro u te ope r a t o r s ha v e t h e a b i l ity t o a d d v a lue t o a T A P c a rd o n b o a rd a bu s a n d s o m e d o n o t h a v e th is c a p ab i l it y . In t h e l a t t e r inst a n c e , w he t he r a r i de r re ma i n s un a f fe c t e d b y th e p r o po s e d me t h o d w i l l de p en d o n w he t h e r or no t t h e y a re w it h in w a lk i n g d ist an ce o f a n a lt e rn a ti v e m e a n s o f a dd i n g v a lue t o t h e T AP c a rd. T h e a l t e rn a ti v e s c on sist o f rail a n d O r a n g e L ine s t a ti o n s w h ich ha v e T V M ’s c ap a b le o f issui n g a n d up g ra d ing T A P c a r d s, o r cust o me r s e r v ice ou tl e ts w h ich c a n s e ll and /o r up g ra d e T AP c a rds (th e re a re s e v e ral hu n d red o f t he s e ).The po ssible c omb i na ti o n s o f t h e se f a ct o rs a n d na t u re o f r i de r i m pa cts a re s h o w n in T ab le 2 . T h is e v a lu a ti o n a ss um e s t h a t h a v ing t o pu rc h a se a T A P c a rd is inc o n s e q uen t i a l be c a u se t h e $1 -$2 c o s t o f t h e c a rd c a n b e am o rti z e d o v e r its m u ltiple y ea r v a l i d i t y . T h e r e f o r e , t h e No TAP C a rd rid e rs w ho se o n ly po t en ti a l ad v e rse i m pa ct w ou ld b e t h e ne e d t o bu y a T A P c a r d a re c on si d e red t o b e Not I m pa c t e d a s l o n g a s t h e y a re o t he r w ise ab le to w a lk to a l o c a ti o n w he re t he y c a n ad d v a lue t o t h e c a rd. As c a n b e s e e n f r o m Ta b le 2 t h e re a re th r e e sc ena r i o s t ha t res u lt in a n ad v e rse i m p a ct f o r r id e rs so si t ua t ed : 1 . T h e rid e r h a s No TAP Card a n d a dd ing v a lue t o t h e T A P p u rse o n t h e b u s h a s n o v a lue b e c a u se t he y a re n o t w it h in w a lk i n g d ist an c e o f a l o c a ti o n w he re the y c ou ld ob t a i n t h e T A P c a rd its e l f ; 2 . T h e rid e r h a s a T AP C a rd b u t c a nn o t a d d v a lue t o it a n y w he re; an d 3 . T h e rid e r h a s No Tap Card a n d c a nn o t a d d v a lue t o it o r b u y o n e . AT T A CH M ENT B T AP -B a s ed I nt e r a g e n c y T r a n s f ers M a y 2 0 15 T i t l e V I E v a l u a t i o n – P a ge 3 Tab l e 2 Rider Imp a c t Catego r iz a tions T A P C a rd No TAP C a rd Can A d d V a lue Can W a lk to Ou t l e t No Imp a ct No Imp a ct Can A d d V a lue Ca nn o t W a lk t o Ou tl e t No Imp a ct A d v e rse Imp a ct Ca nn o t A d d V a lue Can W a lk to Ou t l e t No Imp a ct No Imp a ct Ca nn o t A d d V a lue Ca nn o t W a lk t o Ou tl e t A d v e rse Imp a ct A d v e rse Imp a ct Re s ults of E v a lu a tion T h e n e x t st e p in th is e v a lu a ti o n w a s t o d e t e r m ine t h e n u m b e r o f p e rso n s a ss o c i a t e d w ith ea ch I mpa c t Ca teg or y , an d f o r t h e p o t en ti a l A d v e rse I mpa c t c a t e g o r i e s, w he t he r or no t t h e re s u lting i m p a c ts w e re Disp a rate (dis p ro po rtio n a t e ly a f f e c ti n g m in o r i ti e s) o r i mpo s e d a Dispro p o rtio na t e B u rd e n (dis p ro p o rtio na t e ly i mpa c t e d p e rso n s in P o v e rt y ). M e tro ha s d e f i n e d a D i s pa rate I mpa c t a s a n a d v e rse i mpa ct a f fe cti n g a g ro u p ha v ing a n ab s o l u te 5 % g re a t e r m in o r i ty s ha re th a n t h e o v e rall popu la t i o n (Uni v e rse) (in t h is ins tan c e , 7 0 .8 % + 5 % = 75 .8 % o r g re a t e r) o r a 20 % g re a t e r s h a re (7 0 .8 % x 1 .2 0 = 85 .0 %). T h is e v a lu a t i on u s e s t h e l e ss e r t h re s ho ld o f 7 5 .8 %. A Disp r opo rti o na t e Bu r de n ha s b ee n d e f i n e d a s a n ad v e rse i m pa ct a f fe c ti n g a g ro u p h a v ing a n ab s o l u te 5 % g re a t e r P o v e rty s ha re (15 .7 % + 5 % = 2 0 .7 %), o r a 2 0 % g re a t e r P o v e rty s ha re t h a n t h e o v e rall popu l a ti o n (in t h is i n st a n c e , g re a t e r t h a n 1 5 .7 % x 1 .2 0 = 18 .8 % o r g re a t e r ). This e v a lu a ti o n u s e s t h e l e s s e r sh a re o f 18 .8 %. T h e f i r st a d v e rsely i mpa ct e d g ro u p c o n sists o f t ho s e rid e rs w h o d o n o t h a v e a T AP c a rd, b u t c o u ld ad d v a lue t o it i f t he y d id. This is t h e n o n -T A P c a rd p o rtion o f t h e s e c o n d g ro u p in T ab l e 3 . T h e m in o r i ty s ha re o f t h is g ro u p (7 5 .9 %) e x c e e d s t h e Dis p a rate I m p a ct t h res h o ld (7 5 .8 %) so th is g ro u p is Di s pa ra te l y I mp ac te d . T h e Po v e rty s ha re (1 4 .7 % is less t h a n t h e th res h o ld f o r D i s p ro p o rtio na te Bu r d e n (1 8 .8 %) s o t h e re is n o E n v i r onme n t a l J u s tice c on s e q u e n ce f o r t h is g ro up . T A P -B a s ed I nt e r a g e n c y T r a n s f ers M a y 2 0 15 T i t l e V I E v a l u a t i o n – P a ge 4 Tab l e 3 AT T A CH M ENT C T AP -B a s ed I nt e r a g e n c y T r a n s f ers M a y 2 0 15 T i t l e V I E v a l u a t i o n – P a ge 5 T h e r e ma ini n g t w o ad v e rsely i mpa ct e d g ro u p s c o m p r i se t h e t o t a l i ty o f t h e f ou rth c a t e g o ry in T a b le 3 (w he t h e r or n o t t he y ha v e a T A P c a r d , t h e y ha v e n o w a y t o ad d v a lue t o it). B o th t h e m i no r i ty s ha re (70 .3 % c o mpa r e d w ith 75 .8 %) a n d t h e P o v e rty s ha re (1 6 .1 % c o m pa r e d w ith 18 .8 %) a re l e ss t ha n t h e th re s ho lds f o r D i s pa rate I m p a ct an d Dispr o po rti o na t e B u rd en , res pe c ti v e l y , so the re a re n o T itle VI o r E n v i r onm e n t a l J u stice c o n s e q u e n c e s f o r t he s e g ro up s . Findings T h e g ro u p o f rid e rs h a v ing n o T AP c a r d , an d no t w it h in w a lk i n g d ist an ce o f a p lace t o ob t a i n o n e (t h ou g h t h e y c ou ld ad d v a lue t o it i f t he y h a d o ne ) w a s f o un d to b e Di s pa ra tely I mp ac ted b y th e p r o po s e d T A P -ba s e d I A T . T h e m o st r e c en tly p roc e s s e d Cus to m e r S a ti s f a cti o n S u r v e y i nd ica te s th a t a bou t 72 % o f M e tro r i d e rs h a v e a T AP c a rd (pro bab ly a h i g he r p e r c en t a g e no w a s th is d a ta is o v e r a y ea r ol d ). This y iel d s a g ro u p o f a pp ro x i ma t e ly 8 0 0 ,0 0 0 p eop l e w h o a re c o n stit ue n ts o f A n t e lo p e V a l l e y , Fo o t h i l l T ra n si t , G a r d e n a , M o n t ebe l lo , a n d T o r ra n ce (t ho se a f fo rding t h e o p p o rtu n ity t o a d d v a lue t o t h e T A P p u rse a t t h e t r i p o r ig in). T h is g ro u p c on sti t u t e s a b o u t 8 .3 % o f a ll pe rso n s w it h in w a lk i n g d ist an c e o f f i x e d ro u t e t ra n sit. T h e p r o po s e d T A P -b a s e d I A T s h o u ld b e p u r s ue d g i v e n th a t mo re t ha n 91 % o f t h e po p u la t ion w ou ld n o t b e Disp a ra t e ly Impa c t e d no r D i s p ro p o rtio n a t e ly Bu rd e ne d b y th e p ro g ra m . Cus t o m e r c o n v en ie n ce f o r t h o se h a v ing t o t ra n sf e r w ou ld b e impro v e d w ith f a st e r b oa rding t i me s, an d no t ha v ing t o c a r r y ad d e d c a sh f o r tra n s f e r ch a r g e s. It is cle a r l y in Me t ro’s in te rest t o pu rs u e i mp ro v e d m u lt i -o pe ra t o r co o rdi n a ti o n an d t h e p ro v is i o n o f s e am less f a re m e c h an i s m s f o r r i d e rs w h ich t h e p r o po s e d p ro g ram w ou ld a cc o m p l i s h . Gi v e n t h e si g n i f ica n t i n v e st m e n t i n T AP, t h e re is n o o t h e r cos t -e f f e c ti v e me c h an i s m f o r p ro v idi n g a c on sis t en t mult i -ope rat o r tra n s f e r pr o g ram w it hou t p r i n t e d f a re med i a t h a n t h e p r opo s e d T A P p ro g r a m .