Press Releases
10/25/2018
Gov. Malloy Announces Launch of Go CT Card, Creating Greater Ease for Bus Transit Riders
New Tap and Go Card Automatically Calculates Rider Fares and Applies Discounts for CTtransit, CTtransit Express and CTfastrak Travelers
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Department of Transportation Commissioner James P. Redeker today announced the launch of a new “tap and go” fare card that will provide increased convenience and ease for public transit commuters who ride the state’s bus system by allowing them to place funds into an account connected to the card, and then simply tapping the card on the fare box each time when boarding. Riders who use the card will automatically receive any discounts that are available, providing them with the lowest possible fare without any guesswork.
Known as the Go CT Card, it is now available to use on all CTtransit, CTtransit Express, and CTfastrak busses throughout the state.
“Bus travel throughout Connecticut just became significantly easier today with the introduction of our new Go CT Card,” Governor Malloy said. “Modernizing and updating our transportation infrastructure is critical if we want to have thriving towns where families want to live, business can flourish, and communities succeed. The demand for this high-quality service is abundantly clear, and today’s announcement will only make our bus system more user friendly. If we want our state to be competitive and attract the jobs of the future, investing in our transportation system is not optional.”
The Go CT Card provides the same discounts a rider would receive with a regular fare ticket, but the card and funds on it never expire. This gives the rider a quick boarding option without the need to carry exact change, along with the benefits of a multi-day pass without having to worry about future rides going unused.
“When boarding a CTtransit bus, a rider just taps their card on the fare box each time when boarding,” Commissioner Redeker explained. “On a CTtransit Express bus, the rider should tap the card when they board, but also tap off when exiting so the system can calculate the fare based on the number of zones traveled. When a person uses a CTfastrak bus, all they need to do is to tap the card on a platform validator at the station or shelter stop in downtown Hartford before boarding, then simply board when the bus arrives. If a validator is not available at the station or stop, they can tap their Go CT Card at the fare box.”
For a limited introductory period, customers can receive a Go CT Card for free (it will cost $2 after December 31, 2018). Transit riders can sign up to receive a card at www.goctcard.com or by calling 877-255-7433.
After receiving the card, riders will need to add transit travel funds (a minimum of $10 and maximum of $500) into the account in one of two ways – funds can be added online at www.goctcard.com, or in person by visiting a participating retailer (CVS Pharmacy and 7-Eleven) or one of the CTtransit Customer Service Centers. There are no service fees associated with adding money to the card – all funds used exclusively for transit fare payments.
Beginning January 1, 2019, the Go CT Card will be available for purchase at the CTtransit Customer Service Centers in Hartford, New Haven, and Stamford; at the North East Transportation Center in Waterbury; at the Meriden Transit District offices; and also at CVS Pharmacy locations and 7-Eleven convenience stores. Until then, CVS and 7-Eleven stores will only offer Go CT Card account reloading services.
“I can see the Go CT Card becoming very popular in Connecticut and encouraging significantly more people to use bus transit,” Lyle Wray, Executive Director of Capitol Region Council of Governments, said. “Its tap and go and easy-load features will definitely appeal to the average consumer.”
A mobile app will be available in early 2019 that will allow customers to access their Go CT Card account and pay transit fares. (If planning to use the mobile app once launched, riders will still need to obtain a Go CT Card in order to create an account.)
“We believe many employers in Connecticut will provide Go CT Cards for their employees as a regular benefit or perk,” Gerry Amodio, Executive Director of the New Britain Downtown District, said. “The timing to launch the card is perfect as the CTfastrak system matures based upon its success, and as transit and transportation development has become a priority for all of us here in Connecticut.”
In the near future, the Department of Transportation plans to make the Go CT Card also available for use on all of the rail lines in the state – including the Hartford Line, Shore Line East, and the New Haven Line. Until further notice, the card can only be used on the state’s bus systems.
For more information about the new Go CT Card, visit www.goctcard.com or www.cttransit.com.
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