The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) today announced that CTtransit and CTfastrak customers can purchase 10-ride tickets and all-day passes on smartphones beginning Friday, December 1, 2023.
On April 1 of this year, a pilot program was launched in partnership with Token Transit to allow customers to purchase 2-hour passes for all CTtransit local buses and CTfastrak buses on their smartphones. On September 1 of this year, the pilot program was enhanced to include 31-day passes through Token Transit. Due to the overwhelming success of the pilot program and customer requests for additional fare and payment options received as CTDOT developed its first Customer Experience Action Plan, the pilot program will once again expand to include additional passes for purchase.
Since the pilot program launched eight months ago, over 45,000 unique users have used their smartphones to purchase a CTtransit or CTfastrak mobile pass, with more than one million passes sold during that time. The addition of the 31-day pass in September was well-received, with customers asking for more passes to be made available for purchase.
“We heard loud and clear from customers that they want more convenient payment options on CTtransit and CTfastrak buses. By expanding the Token Transit program, we’re providing these additional options to Connecticut customers as CTDOT continues its commitment to transform the customer experience,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Bureau Chief of Public Transportation Benjamin Limmer. “By having payment options linked directly to smartphones, customers have more freedom in paying their fares. We’re excited to continue the Token Transit program to ensure riders have the best possible experience.”
The following ticket types will be available for purchase through a mobile device:
- 2-hour pass (Adult, Youth, and Senior/People with Disabilities)
- All-day pass (Adult, Youth, and Senior/ People with Disabilities)
- 10-ride ticket (Adult, Youth, and Senior/ People with Disabilities)
- 31-day pass (Adult and Senior/ People with Disabilities)
To use Token Transit, customers can download the Token Transit mobile app or use the Transit App, CTrides app, Moovit, or Google Maps, all integrated with Token Transit.
Here’s how it works:
- As buses approach, customers who purchased passes via Token Transit can open their app and tap on the pass to activate it.
- The applicable period (2-hour, all-day, or 31-day) for which the ticket is available begins once the pass is activated.
- Once on the bus, customers should follow the instructions in the app to validate the ticket and show the bus operator.
All CTfastrak and CTtransit local buses will accept Token Transit, including the Hartford, New Haven, and Stamford Divisions, as well as CTtransit in Bristol, Meriden, New Britain, Wallingford, and Waterbury.
CTtransit Express buses are not currently included in this pilot program. Any customer who uses Token Transit on a CTtransit local bus and transfers to a CTtransit Express bus will need to pay the difference in fares with cash at the farebox of the express bus.
Here’s what passengers need to know when using Token Transit:
- Passengers will need a mobile device with an internet connection to purchase and activate passes. The mobile ticketing technology works for iOS and Android devices.
- Purchased passes can be used immediately or stored for future rides. Fares purchased on Token Transit never expire.
- Passes can also be sent to any phone number, allowing customers to instantly deliver bus passes to family and friends.
- If passengers need to transfer to another bus operated by another participating Connecticut transit agency, they can request a paper transfer upon boarding the initial CTtransit or CTfastrak bus. For a list of the transit agencies that accept transfers from CTtransit and CTfastrak, please visit CTtransit.com/fares/transfers.
- Several security features are used to prevent fraud, including moving imagery to prevent screenshots and a current time ticker to prevent screen recordings.
- For more information about traveling in groups, gifting transit passes and other important details, visit CTtransit’s Token Transit FAQ at CTtransit.com/fares/token-transit-app-download-ride/
The Go CT card will continue to be available to CTtransit and CTfastrak customers and will use a system known as fare capping to calculate their fares and pay the lowest possible price with no guesswork for the user.
Token Transit partners with 208 transit agencies in the United States and Canada.
For more information, help planning a trip, and a list of routes, visit CTtransit.com.