Skip to Content
Streetsblog Los Angeles home
Log In

LADOT Launches Smartphone App For DASH and Commuter Express Fares

1:19 PM PST on February 17, 2015

At a press event this morning, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the new LA Mobile app that allows DASH and Commuter Express transit riders to use a smartphone to pay fares. The app is a collaboration between city of Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) and Portland-based technology company GlobeSherpa, which is also piloting an SF Muni transit fare app later this year. Similar fare apps are already live in New Jersey, Boston, and Austin, and on some commuter rail systems.

For now, the LADOT app is planned for a one-year demonstration, with the long-term future of pay-by-phone technology unclear.

What LADOT's new LA Mobile App looks like. Image via GlobeSherpa
What LADOT's new LA Mobile App looks like. Image via GlobeSherpa

The LA Mobile app requires that users set up a credit card account, then pay for fares on a per-boarding or monthly-pass basis. (Clarification: No single trip payment; users need to purchase 20-trips minimum.) Validation is performed via an animated screen shown to the driver while boarding.

The pay-by-phone app is available only for LADOT-operated transit: DASH and Commuter Express. These are by no means the workhorse systems for transit in the city of Los Angeles; that would be Metro's bus fleet with 400+ million annual boardings compared to LADOT's 2.5+ million (data from 2004-05). Nonetheless, LADOT transit ridership represents an important "sandbox" to work out any system kinks before wider implementation.

LA Mobile appears a little more complicated than just paying by tapping the phone to the fare box, available in Asia and given mention in Metro's long-long-term app plans. Virtual ticketing is still a significant step forward. It could lay the basis for later upgraded convenience.

SBLA has not tried the LA Mobile app yet. How about you, readers? How is it working on your LADOT commute? Any glitches or rough edges in need of improvement?

For additional details, see GlobeSherpa article or Mayor Garcetti's Press Release.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog Los Angeles

Eyes on the Street: Slow Streets in South Pasadena

The city has a sampler platter of quick-build temporary traffic calming installations to experience for the rest of the year

September 20, 2023

Metro Board Looks to Approve $65 Million for 91 Freeway Widening Projects

Metro staff are recommending the board approve funds to support two 91 Freeway expansion projects located in pollution-burdened communities in Southeast L.A. County - in the cities of Long Beach, Artesia, and Cerritos

September 19, 2023

This Week In Livable Streets

Move Your Way open streets in San Fernando, South Bay C Line, LADOT finalizes recommendations for unarmed traffic response, a Leimert Park book launch, Arroyo Seco, Ballona Creek, Metro K Line extension, and more.

September 18, 2023
See all posts