Fare Updates
'Metro Transit Fast Fare' App Now Live
The Fast Fare app is up and running. It was turned on yesterday, and I know many of you have seen these already on the road.
If you are able, I would suggest downloading yourself, so you can better understand - it helped me. Go through the process of adding a mobile barcode – you will need to make an account to do that, but you will not need to put any money on it.
- App is live and ready to use. It is hard to search for it in app stores right not because it is so new and no one has it downloaded. The app itself is called ‘Metro Transit Fast Fares’ – the icon is our ‘m’ logo. If you can’t find it (I couldn’t) go to our website and click the fast fare link at the top of the page. Note: We are not Metro Transit Minneapolis, that app won’t work!! :)
- If riders already have an online fast fare account, the app will link to that account. They need to use their same log in, and once they log in, their smart card information will be loaded onto the app.
- The app allows you to use a virtual smartcard or ‘Tap & Ride’ mobile QR barcode. If riders want to use this function, they have to set it up in the app - it does not automatically give you a barcode.
- Set this up by clicking ‘Tap & Ride’
- Under the ‘Active Tokens’ you will now see ‘Add a barcode or smart card’ – click that.
- The how would you like to travel screen will come up. Click “With Mobile Barcode”
- Enter a nickname. And the code will be created.
- Now, whenever you open the app on the main page, a QR code will appear. That is your fare. You will notice that it changes every 2 or 3 seconds, so a screen shot will not be valid.
- Riders using the mobile token/smartcard/fast fare, will need to scan their code in the middle of the reader, where there is a white box and a mini camera that will read the QR code. They will have to point the screen of the phone to the reader (similar to when you’re boarding a plane with a mobile bar code). When riders open the app, the barcode appears immediately AND it increases the brightness of your phone – it should be fairly quick.
- Do riders still need to get a Fast Fare card? Not necessarily. Riders can choose to only use the mobile QR code as their way to board, but we are strongly encouraging people to have a physical Fast Fare card as a back-up. You never know what can happen. You can board with either, and it will pull the money out of the same account.
- If someone has a half-fare price eligibility, they will need to call us to get it added to their mobile barcode as well. Or, they can just continue to use their card.
- If any riders need any half fare eligibility added to their card or barcode, they have to contact us. They can come to our office, or email mymetrobus@cityofmadison.com with their necessary documents.
- The app is only good for riders who have the dark blue Fast Fare cards that are reloadable. If they are using an unlimited ride card (the white, red or teal fast fares) they cannot use their phones to board at this time. They have to use the card that their institution pays for.
- The same 'stuff' will appear on the validator screen as the cards – red means no, green and yellow mean yes. (For those that haven’t see yellow, this is just an alert to passengers that they are running low on money in their account and need to add value soon. Fare was still valid.)
- We are still not ready to accept credit cards or Apple/Google Pay directly on the bus. That is coming next year.
**If the rider has the Madison Metro Transit Fast Fares app downloaded, they are showing you a moving QR code, and they have money on their account – but it still isn’t working, please report it to Dispatch and then to Marketing. We will look into it. Things should be working, but there will always be outliers.
Questions? Send my way.
Previous Updates:
These fare media updates are now in effect.
Old Fare Media – Please allow to ride on BRT platforms
Please allow people with old magnetic stripe cards/tickets to ride and ask them to pick up a Fast Fare card.
If possible, hit Key 3.
Old Fare Media – Accepted at standard stops
Old magnetic stripe fare media can still be accepted when people are boarding at standard stops with blue signs.
Paper Transfers – Ok at standard stops – not at BRT stations
- Transfers can still be issued with old fare media, but NO paper transfers should not be accepted when boarding at BRT stations.
- Allow people to ride if it becomes an issue. We’re not ordering any more paper transfers, so at some point this issue will go away.
UW-WisCard Grace Period Ended
All UW students should have a new Fast Fare card.
MMSD Grace Period Ended
All MMSD students should have a Fast Fare card.
NEW 1-Ride Cards – NO paper transfers needed – Valid for 2 hours
- These should be held at the center of the fare reader.
- Valid for 2 hours (to account for transfers).
- The fare reader will indicate green and red just like other fast fare cards.
NEW 31-Day Cards – Tap for every ride
- Tap at bottom of reader
- These don’t have a date printed on them
- Fare reader will indicate green/red like other Fast Fare cards.
BRT Station Ticket Machines – Tickets work on all buses – No paper transfers needed
- 1-ride tickets and daily passes sold at BRT ticket machines.
- They print a bar code on thermal paper
- Hold bar code up to center of reader.
- Fare reader will indicate green/red like other fast fare cards.
- Can be used at any bus.
- Single tickets are valid for 2 hours to account for transfers.
- You can only buy adult tickets and passes at these machines.