The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) announced today that Connecticut River Ferry customers can now purchase fares using their smartphone through the Token Transit app.

Single ride and 20-ride discounted tickets are available for both the Chester-Hadlyme Ferry and Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry. The ferries operate seasonally between April 1 and November 30 and last year transported 50,000 passengers and more than 123,000 vehicles.

The ferries costs $5 per vehicle on weekdays and $6 on weekends. Pedestrians and bicyclists are welcome on the ferries and fares are $2 per ride. The 20-ride tickets cost $60 for vehicles – a discount of 40%.

To use Token Transit, customers can download the Token Transit mobile app - available on iOS or Android. Customers can prepurchase tickets in Token Transit by searching for CTferry as the agency name and following the instructions given in the app. As they approach the ferry, customers who purchased tickets via Token Transit can activate their pass on the app. Activated tickets will be validated by ferry staff to show as proof purchase. For those customers who prefer to pay with cash or check, those options will continue to be available.

“We’ve already seen the success and positive feedback on Token Transit through our CTtransit and CTfastrak customers, and we’re thrilled to launch this convenient payment option for customers of our two historic ferries,” said Connecticut Department of Transportation Deputy Commissioner Karen Kitsis. “With fewer people carrying cash and checks, having mobile ticketing options makes sense and is part of our commitment to improve the customer experience for transit riders.”

Here’s what else customers need to know when using Token Transit:

• Customers 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. CTferry tickets purchased on Token Transit never expire.
• Tickets can also be sent to any phone number, allowing customers to deliver CTferry tickets to family and friends instantly.
• Several security features are used to prevent fraud, including moving imagery to prevent screenshots and a current time ticker to prevent screen recordings. Once activated, tickets are valid for verification for 10 minutes, so only activate prior to boarding the vessel.

CTDOT first partnered with Token Transit in April 2023, and expanded the program in August 2023. Token Transit partners with over 200 transit agencies in the United States and Canada.

Weather conditions, water levels, or mechanical issues may impact ferry operations, with any closures and delays shared online. Members of the public are encouraged to sign up for alerts on the real-time travel and traffic information website CTroads.com.

For additional information on the ferries, including, schedules, and complete history, please visit CT.gov/DOT/CTferries.