Introduced in October 2018, the Go CT Card provides increased convenience and ease for public transit commuters who ride CTtransit and CTfastrak buses 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 using the card will automatically receive any discounts that are available, providing them with the lowest possible fare without any guesswork. 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. Funds in the account do not expire, but riders should register their Go CT Card account at www.GoCTCard.com to protect the funds in case they lose their card.
“With a Go CT Card, riders can pay for a 31-day pass in $10 increments instead of paying all at once, and they can reload online or with cash at local retailers”, said Connecticut Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe Giulietti. “We are extending the offer to receive a Go CT Card at no charge, to allow more riders to take advantage of the new fare payment option.”
When boarding a CTtransit bus, a rider just taps their card on the fare box each time. On a CTtransit Express bus, the rider needs to tap the card when they board, and when they exit so the system can calculate the fare based on the number of zones traveled. When a rider 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 board when the bus arrives. If a validator is not available at the station or stop, the rider can tap their Go CT Card at the fare box on board.
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 three ways. Customers can add funds to their Go CT card accounts online at www.goctcard.com, in person by visiting a participating retailer (CVS Pharmacy and 7-Eleven), or one of the CTtransit Customer Service and Sales Outlets. There are no service fees associated when adding funds to the account – all funds are used exclusively for transit fare payments.
For riders that already have a Go CT Card, a mobile app will be released in 2019 that can be used in place of the Go CT Card. For more information about the new Go CT Card, visit www.GoCTCard.com.