Metro News Release

For immediate release: January 17, 2008

Metro resumes sale of tokens to the general public

Metro has started selling tokens again to the general public.

“Starting immediately, we will go back to selling bus tokens to ALL customers,” said Metro General Manager John Catoe.

The decision comes almost two weeks after the transit agency stopped selling the tokens to all but students and paratransit riders as part of a series of fare changes that took effect January 6.

“We were looking to cut some operation expenses with the eventual phase out of tokens. However, we have since heard from many charitable organizations and social service agencies, which distribute tokens to the needy, that eliminating them is too burdensome,” said Catoe.

Metro collects more than 125,000 tokens per month from passengers. They are used for trips on buses and MetroAccess vehicles.

The transit agency’s managers will officially ask the agency’s Board to ratify the decision next Thursday. Metro officials are researching replacing the tokens with a new method of payment.

Riders can purchase tokens at Metro sales offices, bus divisions, regional commuter stores, select Giant and Safeway and other retailer stores.

News release issued at 12:00 am, January 17, 2008.