LADOT’s Press Release on Downtown Fare Changes Probably Too Late to Control Blame

As we approach the start of the new year, we also get closer to the end of the free transfer between LADOT and Metro. While this blog seems to be the only people outside of city government that care about this "stealth fare hike" it is somewhat amusing to compare LA DOT's press release with that for Metro announcing the change.

Metro announces the policy change in a "just the facts" press release that states that Metro announced the policy change earlier this month. By beating LADOT to the punch (Metro's release beat LADOT's to the punch by over a week), Metro was able to control the early coverage of the story. None of the stories last week mentioned that the free transfer was eliminated because of a decision by Metro staff to eliminate the program.

LADOT's is more blunt, laying the blame directly at the feet of Metro.

LADOT REGRETS THIS CHANGE IN FARE POLICY BUT METRO’s DECISION NOT TO REIMBURSE LADOT FOR PASSENGERS USING METRO PASSES AND TAP CARDS ON OUR BUSES HAS LEFT US NO CHOICE BUT TO IMPLEMENT THIS POLICY

Because Metro beat LADOT to the punch with an earlier press release and because DASH drivers will be the ones informaing most DASH/Metro patrons of the change; the blame for this change will probably be laid on LADOT and not the staff at Metro who came to this decision.