Yesterday at the SacRT board meeting, there was a lot of discussion about the decision to terminate the Connect Transit Card system. This physical card system was chosen by SACOG years ago, but has been problematic for its entire lifespan. In fact, it did not really work at all for the first year of its implementation. The card readers are unusually prone to vandalism. Nevertheless, many riders use the Connect Transit Card as their preferred payment system. With the projected end of this card by the end of 2026, many riders are asking how transit fares can be paid for people without smart phones and credit cards.

SacRT, as with many transit agencies, is implementing Tap2Ride, where any contactless credit or debit card (the ones with the contactless symbol) can be used to pay fares, using new card readers that have been installed on buses. SacRT is in the early stages of implementing Tap2Ride. There are no tap readers at light rail stations, and it seems likely that there will never be tap readers on the trains (though riders and advocates have questioned this decision). No senior or disabled fares are available through tap, from SacRT, though cards registered with the state CalITP program do provide discounts. No transfers are available through tap. No fare capping is available. These lacking capabilities are due to be implemented in ‘Phase 2’ of Tap2Ride, scheduled for fall 2025, but now optimistically scheduled for fall 2026. Payment by contactless credit card is called ‘open loop’, though this is a technical term that doesn’t make sense to most riders.

There are a lot of other issues related to fare payment. The transition from ZipPass app to Transit Connect app, by June 30, is a good thing (ZipPass was glitchy and customer support lacking). Agencies and transportation management associations (TMAs) have questioned how subsidized or donated transit fares will be handled without a physical card. SacRT has promised a solution, but doesn’t seem to be actively working on one. The SacRT Fares page lists a number of options. Is more options good for riders, or just confusing?

But what provoked this post is the question of how riders without smart phones and credit cards will pay fares. SacRT staff could not answer that question. There was a reference to a Transit Connect ‘card’, but there is no indication that the program has been defined or is being worked on. There was a lot of concern about what to do when my phone dies, or the fare app doesn’t work. Or I don’t have a smart phone. Several riders told stories about just those issues.

The big issue, though, is how unbanked people, who do not have credit cards to add fare to apps, and in many cases also do not have a smart phone, will pay fares. There is an easy solution, but one that SacRT has so far rejected.

The Cash App Debit Card is the first method for unbanked people (this page does not address how funds get added if the user doesn’t have a smart phone and Cash App account). Riders can add value to the card with cash, at vendors which offer this service. No credit card or smart phone required. Cash App lists vendors that can add value from paper money (‘paper money deposit’). It is a remarkably comprehensive list, including many stores often used by unbanked people. Of course, this is not limited to unbanked people. It can be used by anyone who doesn’t have or doesn’t want to use a smart phone, or who has concerns about their phone dying at a critical moment (though Apple iPhones can continue to make transit fare payments (express pay) for at least an hour after their phone is out of battery. It can be used by anyone who doesn’t like apps. It can be used by anyone who doesn’t have or doesn’t want to use credit cards.

There are now many other options for adding paper money to debit cards, but so far as I could determine, few have the ease of adding at so many vendors, or require a bank account for contactless capability, or require an app, and none are oriented to transit use.

All that is required is that the transit agency advertise this capability to their riders, though as many venues as possible. SacRT has chosen not to take this path. It is a mistake.

Several posts on Tap2Ride and contactless fare payment are available on the archive STAR website.