Pace Suburban Bus (Pace) and New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) are making changes to improve the fare experience for riders.
Pace Board approves first step towards Regional Day Pass (RDP) Pilot
At its April meeting, the Pace Board of Directors approved a key step toward expanding and improving regional transit access for riders across the Chicagoland area by authorizing the First Amendment to the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) for the RDP Pilot Program, a collaborative effort between Pace, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA).
The RDP will provide riders with a convenient, cost-effective option for unlimited rides on all three systems for a single day—at a lower cost than purchasing separate one-day passes for each agency. The amendment reflects updates to the program’s business rules, fare structure and reimbursement process to streamline implementation and ensure a seamless rider experience.
“This initiative is an example of the coordination that takes place between the RTA, CTA, Metra and Pace—demonstrating our shared commitment to making the transit system more seamless and convenient for riders across the region,” said Pace Board Chair Rick Kwasneski.
NJ Transit introduces new fare card
On April 19, NJ Transit introduced a new fare card as an easy and fast way to pay fares. The card, called FARE-PAY, began its rollout at four bus park & rides and on the Newark Light-Rail system. The four NJ Transit bus park & rides are Willowbrook Mall (Wayne), Mothers (Wayne), Wayne Transit Center (Wayne) and Allwood Road (Clifton).
NJ Transit notes customers at the four park & rides purchasing 10-trip bus tickets will also receive the new fare cards on May 1. Customers then can tap their FARE-PAY cards at the onboard validator while boarding or at platform validating stations on Newark Light Rail. Additional locations, features and travel modes will be added as the program continues to expand across the system.
“NJ Transit continues to evolve with the needs of our customers by providing fare payment options that are simple, flexible and environmentally responsible,” said NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri. “The FARE-PAY card reflects our broader goal of modernizing fare collection throughout our system, improving the overall travel experience for our customers.”
The agency notes bus customers at the initial four park & rides and the entire Newark Light-Rail system will receive the new fare card from TVMs loaded with their monthly pass or bus 10-trip ticket. Newark Light-Rail customers who tap their FARE-PAY cards on platform validators will use that same FARE-PAY card to tap a fare inspector’s mobile validation device when requested by the fare inspector. The customer’s validation information will be provided.
According to the agency, the FARE-PAY fare cards, which are reusable, will provide customers the ability to manage their account online, view fare card activity and auto-reload products and value. Customers will hold onto their FARE-PAY cards and reload tickets or passes onto them. A credit/debit card is not required. As part of future phases of FARE-PAY, customers will be able to purchase and reload their cards at participating retail locations throughout the state. NJ Transit notes that feature is expected to be available at retail locations throughout New Jersey this summer.
The agency says customers who use the mobile app to purchase tickets and passes can continue to do so and will not require a FARE-PAY card, with the goal of the FARE-PAY card being to reduce the use of paper tickets by using a more environmentally sustainable fare payment system, reducing the use of cash on board buses and speeding up the boarding process.
Brandon Lewis | Associate Editor
Brandon Lewis is a recent graduate of Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Lewis is a former freelance editorial assistant at Vehicle Service Pros in Endeavor Business Media’s Vehicle Repair Group. Lewis brings his knowledge of web managing, copyediting and SEO practices to Mass Transit Magazine as an associate editor. He is also a co-host of the Infrastructure Technology Podcast.
