I Love Latino LA TAP Cards

October 16, 2017- I was finally about to track down and buy the I Love Latino LA TAP Cards.    The grey downtown LA was issued in 2014.  The purple downtown LA was issued in 2015.  The white box TAP card was issued in 2016.

I found out about the 2014, 2015, and 2016 I Love Latino LA TAP Cards on the Latino Heritage Instagram page.  Then a couple months back, they had a picture of the 2017 Latino Heritage TAP card on their Instagram page, but they didn't have any information about to buy the TAP card.

Last week I went to the Latino Heritage LA website and found a phone number to call.  The lady who answered the phone was very helpful.  She told me the 2014, 2015, and 2016 TAP Cards are still available, all three for $20!  Each TAP Card is suppose to have $1.75 of stored value loaded on them.  But, I didn't have time to go to a station and check.  But, the TAP cards have a little known thing about them.  If a TAP card isn't used for 18 months, they will take out $1 as a service charge!!!

They will mail them or you can pick them up at the Latino Heritage LA office.  The 2017 Latino Heritage LA TAP Cards are $20!  Yes, $20, but they do have $1.75 of stored value loaded on the TAP cards.  I just think that is too much to spend, so I passed.

Wanted- 2016 Expo to Santa Monica TAP Card

The 2016 Expo Line to Santa Monica TAP card was issued on May 20, 2016 for the opening of the Expo Line to Santa Monica! About three weeks later I went to the Pico Station, saw a TAP machine with the sticker for this TAP card, put my money in and got a generic blue TAP card!  WTF!  I wasn't going on a wild goose chase for this TAP card, so I missed out!

I am hoping to trade for this TAP card.  Is there a TAP card that I have, that you need to complete your collection?  Let's work out a trade!  I have an extra AARP TAP Card and 2017 Olympics Bid for 2024 TAP card.

When trading I want clean, mint condition TAP cards, that means no scratches or fading of the TAP card.  I want the TAP card to have a no stored value and in working condition- meaning I can add fare to the TAP card! The TAP cards I have to trade are in clean mint condition and have nothing in stored value!

Wanted- 2016 Veterans Day TAP Card

The 2016 Veterans Day TAP were released on Monday November 9, 2015- Veterans Day. 

I have never seen this 2016 Veterans Day TAP card except online!  I would love to have this TAP card in my collection!

I am hoping to trade for this TAP card.  Is there a TAP card that I have, that you need to complete your collection?  Let's work out a trade!  I have an extra AARP TAP Card and 2017 Olympics Bid for 2024 TAP card.

When trading I want clean, mint condition TAP cards, that means no scratches or fading of the TAP card.  I want the TAP card to have a no stored value and in working condition- meaning I can add fare to the TAP card! The TAP cards I have to trade are in clean mint condition and have nothing in stored value!

2016 Gold Line Extension TAP Card

The 2016 Gold Line Extension TAP Card was released on March 5, 2016, the same day the Gold Line Extension opened!  The picture on the TAP card was taken by a Metro train operator, who was training on the Gold Line!  This maybe one of the best TAP card designs!

Usually when a line opens Metro has an open house with free service on that line.  When the Gold Line opened from Union Station to Pasadena in 2004, I went and it was a complete madhouse!  There were so many people, maybe because the ride was free, but you're packed like sardines on the trains.  Despite this, I went to the APU/Citrus station early on March 5th.  I was able to find parking in that very small parking structure, get two of these TAP cards and was gone within 5 minutes!  I wasn't going to stay for that madhouse that was soon going to start!

2016 City of Santa Monica TAP Card

In late April of 2016, the city of Santa Monica issued three TAP cards to celebrate the opening of the Expo Line to Santa Monica.  Again, I was only interested in two of the TAP cards!

I found out about these TAP cards by complete accident, in late July, 2016.!  The city of Santa Monica and their transit service, Big Blue Bus, offered a great deal- they would match any amount you put onto a TAP card up to $20 per transaction.  I was just going to Santa Monica to take advantage of this great offer and to ride the Expo Line to Santa Monica for the first time!!  But, after doing a search I found out about those TAP cards.  So, when I went to Santa Monica by the Expo Line, I was looking forward to getting these TAP cards.

But, I went to both city hall and the Big Blue Bus retail store only to find out that the TAP cards were sold.  Using emails and social media, Big Blue Bus said they had found a limited number of the TAP cards.  I went to their retail store and the lady working there, said she didn't get anymore TAP cards.  The lady at the store told me to call customer service and when I did, they actually called her and she found an envelope with the TAP Cards.  These TAP cards cost $2 each.  I was so happy to get these two TAP cards, after finding out about them so late!