1900:  The first streetcars run out of Los Angeles Railways Division One.

2001:  The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors adopts a Universal Fare System.

The new program, marketed as “TAP,” hastens the day when passengers will be able to move seamlessly from one local transit carrier to another without the hassle of coping with a variety of cash fares, passes and fare media.

TAP will also reduce fare fraud which costs the agency between $5.5 million and $11.1 million annually.

Passengers will eventually carry credit-card sized proximity cards as fare media that could be recognized by local municipal bus operator fare boxes as well as the Metro system.