The New TAP Turnstiles Are. . . Where?

After lengthy discussions with the public rubber-stamp committees that had to allocate for new ink pads, Metro is finally starting to install the TAP faregates along the Red Line. The first station to get them is Normandie.

Well, the first station slated to get them is Normandie. We saw only the old TAP machines being removed. The gates, which had been heavily contested by only a couple people with power, were proved by former MetroLink CEO Richard Stanger to be a financial burden that was implemented through studies rife with imaginative accounting and possibly intentional errors. The initial uproar may be why Metro's plans to install them by the end of June have barely begun in mid-July—so as to let the protests die down. 

We at The Bus Bench are pretty sure that the contractor collecting and monitoring the personal information found on TAP cards—defence agency Cubic, Inc.—is not concerned with such things.

Nice job if you can get it.

Comments

[Spokker]

Now here's something we agree on. I'd like to see some turnstiles for freeway on-ramps that verify that drivers have insurance, registration and a license before getting on the freeway. I would also like them to TAP their license so we can track where they drive. Oh, and I would like the trunk inspected to see if they are carrying any contraband.

I'm pretty close to fixing up my car and becoming a permanent driver again on principle alone. I would rather die on the freeway than have my stuff rummaged through without a warrant.

[browne]

I think if a terrorist would think of ways to ruin people in LA's day, I'm pretty sure that public transit isn't going to be the way to go. I mean if the terrorist was lazy and had tenure, yeah maybe, but a terrorist with initiative would go after LA's freeways. This is the car capital of the world, so with that why are we only tracing people who can't even get METRO to install barriers. We have the most deadly railline in the country, how does that even happen in Los Angeles, we only have three (ok four) rail lines that don't even run after midnight. Why would terrorist need to do anything maybe METRO is run by terrorist, incompetent terrorist.

Keep in mind I seriously don't want anyone tracked. I'm just saying the idea behind why this is happening is just ridiculous. A complete waste of money.

[Erik]

Anyone notice that the TAP logo has an arrow which points to the wrong turn-stile?

[Randall BusTard]

Erik,
It does look odd, that arrow, but as those same style of turnstiles are used on PATH in NYC and Jersey, it will not be-providing such gates are properly installed. The problem may be in the lack of a magnetic reader (such as those found on PATH, and to a lesser extent, on NYC Metro) through which a straphanger guides the Metro card atop the divider. Metro appears to presume that people will have TAP cards in their right hands when the approach the turnstiles.
How will things work out? Time will tell.