Game on for Bruin, Trojan fare cards

Customized Bruin and Trojan TAP cards may be on the way.

The UCLA Bruins and USC Trojans are archrivals on the gridiron, but fans share a common interest: getting to the game in time for kickoff.

To that end, Metro Board members Zev Yaroslavsky (UCLA, Class of ‘71) and Ara Najarian (USC, Class of ‘85) have teamed up on a motion to have the agency develop specially branded Bruin and Trojan TAP cards for travel to home games during the 2014 football season.

There are good light rail alternatives for getting to both teams’ home stadiums; the Expo Line transports USC fans to the Coliseum, and the Gold Line is a shuttle ride away from Pasadena’s Rose Bowl, where the Bruins play. But getting on the train—especially if you don’t already have a TAP card loaded with funds to pay the fare—can cut into the convenience of leaving the driving to Metro.

“Often there are long queues to buy TAP cards and get onto the platform,” the motion said.

Enabling fans to buy a preloaded TAP card at the same time they order tickets through their respective university would “make the whole experience not only more enjoyable, but convenient, efficient and hassle-free,” the motion said.

On Wednesday, Metro’s Finance and Budget committee moved the motion forward to the transit agency’s full board for consideration.

Posted 1/15/14