The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is excited to introduce the Tap & Ride pilot project. This project will test the implementation of contactless debit/credit card fare payments on River Valley Transit and CTtransit Meriden Division buses. Tap & Ride aims to make it as easy as possible for customers to pay for their fares.
Tap & Ride Details
In the fall of 2024, River Valley Transit and the CTtransit Meriden Division, will be introducing contactless payment validators on board their buses, providing the first contactless fare technology available to transit customers in Connecticut. Customers will be able to use debit, credit, pre-paid cards including the Cash app card, and Apple/Google Pay to pay for their bus fares. It’s as simple as tapping your card when you buy a cup of coffee. All forms of fare collection accepted prior to the introduction of these new validators will continue to be accepted.
Validator pictured below:
Tap & Ride Project Timeline
FAQs
Do the new validators scan Go CT cards?
NO. Go CT cards which are only offered on CTtransit vehicles, are not compatible with the Tap & Ride validators.
Can I still purchase bus passes the way I usually do?
YES. The introduction of this technology will provide bus customers an additional option to pay for bus fares. All the methods of fare payment you already use will remain. You are not required to switch to using the contactless fare payments, but we do recommend trying it!
Will my information be kept safe?
YES. The contactless payment validators will utilize contactless EMV (Europay, Mastercard, Visa) technology. This is the highest standard in electronic transaction security that processes your card information in a safe, responsible manner.
Which buses will offer Tap & Ride?
All fixed-route River Valley Transit buses will contain the contactless payment validators. The routes can be viewed at this link: Schedules Archive – River Valley Transit. 5 of the CTtransit Meriden Division routes will also have contactless fare payment capabilities. These are routes 561, 563, 564, 565, and 566. Routes 215 North Haven/Meriden/Wallingford and 940 Meriden/Waterbury express will not be included in the Tap & Ride pilot this fall.
How does the system work?
Fare capping is a pay-as-you-go system that guarantees you are receiving the best fare value for the trips you take. There is no need to pay in advance for a pass! The system will calculate the amount of time you’ve been riding and only charge you the lowest amount for that time period