How much does it cost?
- $1.50 for single adult ride
- .75 for anyone 60 and older or a person with a disability
- Free for anyone 17 and younger (or older if still enrolled in high school.)
If you choose to load passes onto your rechargeable Tcard or Tfare app, you can enjoy discounts depending on how many rides or days you purchase:
The first type of passes are length-based passes that entitle you to an unlimited rides anywhere in the TCAT system for the duration of your pass, counting from the first day that the pass is used. The second type are ride-based passes. These passes never expire, but entitle you to only the specified number of rides you purchase. Please note that a one-way trip counts as one ride used. Thus, a roundtrip ride would cost two rides.
How do I pay?
We accept:
- Credit/debit cards & mobile wallets
- Tfare mobile pay app
- Rechargeble smart card
- Disposable smart card
- Cash
- FreeRyde card for youth who are 14 and older (those 13 and younger can simply board the bus and ride.)
| LENGTH- (or DAY- or EXPIRATION-) BASED | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 Day Pass | $3.00 |
| 2-Day Pass | $6.00 |
| 5-Day Pass | $15.00 |
| Weekly Pass | $17.50 |
| Monthly Pass | $45.00 |
| Annual Pass | $450 |
| RIDE-BASED | Cost |
| 1-14 Adult Rides | $1.50/ride |
| 15+ Adult Rides | $1.33/ride |
Credit Cards. Debit Cards. Mobile Wallets.
Our farebox accepts Mastercard, Visa and Discover, as well as mobile wallets
Note: We do not accept American Express.
Additionally, TCAT’s farebox is now programmed for daily fare capping so that riders can enjoy unlimited rides within a service day after using only two single ride rides (one single adult ride is $1.50, half fare is $.75) but only on their rechargeable smart cards or on the Tfare mobile app. Fare capping does not apply to disposable Tcards, bank cards, digital wallets, disposable smart cards or cash.
The aim of an open payment system is to remove barriers, especially for tourists or others who aren’t familiar with TCAT’s fare structure or who don’t have time to buy a pass in advance. The new feature also reduces the time riders spend at the farebox, which speeds up the boarding process, helping drivers stay on schedule.
The TFare Mobile App
The mobile app TFare can be downloaded on a smart phone FREE OF CHARGE from the Apple App Store for iOS and the Google Play store for Android. Fares haven’t changed ($1.50 for single adult fare and $.75 for half-fare for seniors 60 and older and persons with disabilities.) TCAT strongly encourages riders with smart phones to use the app, which costs nothing to download.
Durable, rechargeable smart Tcard
Many of us want a tangible card in hand to pay the fare. The reloadable smart card is quite durable, long-lasting and made for frequent riders. Check out the TCAT store.
Disposable smart card
Just using the bus for a few days?
You can buy a disposable, nonrechargeable smart Tcard!
For visitors or those who don’t plan to use TCAT for a long-terms, we are also selling lighter, disposable smart cards that are only $1 a piece in addition to the fare. Monthly, 15-ride, five-day, two-day and one-day disposable passes are now available at TCAT and local retailers. As with the durable smart card Tcard, these light smart cards only need to be tapped on the smart card reader. If so, see Where to Buy
Riders not wanting to buy a card can also use open payment: credit or debit cards or digital wallets to pay their fares.
Cash
You Can Still Use Cash
To pay fares in cash, please insert bills and coins in the marked areas on the new farebox. Please make sure you have the exact cash fare as neither the machine nor drivers can give you change.
| Single ride type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Adult (Ages 18-59) | $1.50 |
| Youth (Ages 0-17) | $0.00 – See FreeRyde |
| Seniors (Ages 60+) | $0.75 |
| Persons with disabilities | $0.75 |
Please note:
- You do not need to pay a second fare on another bus to complete a single one-directional trip. Please ask your driver for a transfer slip. (Scroll down for more information about transfers below.)
- Half-fare riders may be asked by the driver for proof of eligibility. (Scroll down for more information about half fares.)
FreeRyde for Youth
Those ages 14 to 17 (or older and enrolled in high school) need to have a “FreeRyde” card to board to enjoy the privilege of riding fare free. FreeRyde passes are not available on the mobile Tfare app.
TCAT distributes FreeRyde smart cards through a registration process. To register and for more details, please see TCAT’s FreeRyde page.
The requirement for older students to have cards was instituted to enable bus operators to distinguish local youth from college students and adults. Those 13 and under will continue to be able to board the bus without a card. As with previous policy, children 5 years and younger ride free (with no card required), so long as they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The farebox is easy to use!
If you have a smart card, simply hover or tap it on the reader on the top of the farebox. If you have the mag-stripe Tcard or FreeRyde Card or a Cornell ID with riding privileges, swipe your card on the mag-stripe reader. If you have passes on the TFare mobile app, when you are ready to ride, select your pass. A QR code will appear for you to wave over the code scanner.
College Students
See TCAT’s College Students page
Cornell University subsidizes fares with different types of privileges for students, faculty and staff that are loaded directly onto university IDs. See Cornell Transportation’s page for more information. All new-to-Cornell students receive free riding privileges for the first year!
IDs are used at the farebox and can only be validated by swiping on the mag stripe reader. The IDs can be swiped in either direction with the magstripe facing the rider. (CU IDs cannot be tapped on the smartcard target.)
Ithaca College students, faculty and staff are able to download the Tfare app on their smart phones and — thanks to generous subsidies provided by the college — ride free. IC students, faculty and staff will receive information from IC via their IC email on how to download and use the app. When its time to ride, the app will show a bar code for the IC rider to simply scan on their farebox.
TCAT is providing discounts for monthly and 15-ride passes for TC3 students. Monthly passes are $28 (instead of $45) and 15-ride passes are $14 (instead of $20.) These passes are being sold at TC3’s card office, Main Campus, Room 101.
Additional Fare Information
Transfers
If you pay your fare in cash or with a ride-based fare card or mobile app and need more than one bus route to get you to your destination, transfer slips are available at no additional cost. When boarding the bus, you should either request a transfer from the Bus Operator, or use your already-obtained transfer slip in lieu of paying the fare. Riders are allowed up to two transfers to complete their trip. Transfers are good for a continuous one way trip on the day of issue and will only be honored on the next available bus. They will not be accepted on any trip that will return the passenger to the area in which the transfer was originally issued, nor to re-board the same route.
Day or semester pass holders do not need a transfer slip. Simply swipe your card again.
TCAT Military Personnel Fare Policy
Active Duty Military and Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) students ride free. You must demonstrate military service by either being dressed in an official U.S.-issued military formal or informal uniform and/or presenting a current military ID.
Youth in High School and Younger
As mentioned above, through the FreeRyde program launched in 2022, any youth enrolled in high school and younger ride free. As with previous policy, children five years old and younger ride free and must be accompanied by a responsible adult (up to three children per adult).
Half-fare for Senior Citizens, Medicare Cardholders and Persons with Disabilities
Persons 60 years old or older, medicare cardholders, persons with a disability and those currently receiving SSI, SSD, or disabled veterans benefits are eligible to pay half-fare on the TCAT bus (this does not apply to Gadabout or ADA paratransit services.) The bus operator may ask for proof of eligibility. Acceptable forms of proof of eligibility are your Medicare card, Senior Citizen’s Discount Card, drivers license or your TCAT half-fare identification card (purple card). To obtain a TCAT half-fare card see our half-fare page.
If you have a disability that prevents you from using the TCAT bus, then you may be eligible for complementary paratransit, a specialized, door-to-door transport service for people who are not able to ride the fixed-route transit system because of a disability.
Please see our ADA/Accessibility section for more information.
Fare costs have remained the same for several years despite inflation
TCAT’s most recent fare collection system from Genfare is funded by a combination of federal and state dollars.
We strive to keep the cost of riding TCAT as inexpensive as possible. TCAT has not raised fares since 2012, but only for riders boarding in rural areas due to the expense of traveling farther away from the Greater Ithaca Area. BUT, in 2019, that extra fare for rural riders was eliminated with all customers now enjoying a flat fare. As noted above, a single adult ride is $1.50 for adults and $0.75/ half fare for seniors 60 and older and persons with disabilities. And as before, the more rides or consecutive days you buy on your Tcard at a time, the more you save!
How do I use my credit or debit card or mobile wallet on the farebox?
Simply tap atop the farebox on the smart card reader.
What type of bank cards does the farebox accept?
Mastercard, Visa and Discover.
Please note: if you are using a mobile wallet, you can only use Discover with ApplePay.
You still accept cash, right?
Yes. Exact change only. Cost is $1.50 for single adult ride and $.75 for seniors 60 and older and persons with disabilities.
What is daily fare capping?
TCAT’s farebox is now programmed for daily fare capping so that riders can enjoy unlimited rides within a service day after only using $3 worth of two single ride rides on their rechargeable Tcards or Tfare apps. It does not work on disposable smart cards, credit or debit cards or mobile wallets.
I am qualified for half fare? Can I use my credit or debit card or mobile wallet too?
Yes, you can. BUT you must “say before you pay!” You must tell the driver that you are a half-fare rider BEFORE you tap your card or mobile wallet.
Will my fare be capped if I use cash or a disposable Tcard?
No. The farebox needs to associate a card or mobile wallet with a specific account. Cash and rechargeable cards are not linked to an account.
Is my bank information safe when using my credit and debit cards or mobile wallet?
Yes,the smart card reader encrypts sensitive data. TCAT complies with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards, which is required of any agency using open payment.
I heard the farebox can actually read the wrong card in my wallet when I am at the farebox. How do I avoid this?
This is called “card clashing” and to avoid it, take your card out of your wallet and tap it directly onto the reader. Keep your other cards in your wallet or away from the reader.
Will my credit or debit card or mobile wallet work in parts of the county that have spotty internet service?
According to our farebox manufacturer, Genfare, riders can still use open payment even if the bus loses cellular service. The confirmation and encryption are unaffected so the reader can still confirm that the payment is valid and whether the card should be denied. When cell service is restored, the encrypted data is uploaded to the cloud for acceptance by the bank.
Any Questions? Please email us at tcat@tcatmail.com.(Please write fare media in the subject line.) Or you can call us at (607) 277-RIDE (7433).
Click on image below to view or download “How to pay your TCAT fare” poster.
Click on image to view or download “How to ride” brochure.
Please Note:
It has come to our attention that some riders are first using Google to find out how to purchase cards. A link from Genfare (our farebox manufacturer) surfaces as:
https://tcat-prod.gfcp.io/efare/store/loadProducts
Do not use. This link does not work or does not enable TCAT customers to set up a correct account.
In the meantime, we are working on a fix to avoid confusion. We thank you for your patience and apologize for any inconvenience.