RTA uses electronic fareboxes in all fixed route buses. The fareboxes will accept coins, cash and passes. Passes are the size of a credit card, printed on sturdy paper with a magnetic stripe on the back. Rather than showing your pass to the driver, you will swipe your pass in the farebox similar to using an ATM card. For cash fares, please use exact fare only. No change will be issued from either the fareboxes or the drivers. To avoid delays, use quarters instead of smaller coins. Dial-A-Ride buses use standard fareboxes and only accept cash, coins and paper tickets.
1-Day passes may be purchased on the bus. 7-Day and 30-Day passes are not sold on the bus but may be ordered online, through the mail or from one of our several pass sales outlets. When purchasing from a pass sales outlet, please be sure to call the outlet before you go to confirm they have the item you want. Not all pass outlets carry all pass products. Day passes are not valid on Dial-A-Ride.
Local Fixed Route Fares | All customers ride free on Fridays through June 28, 2024 |
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Fare Categories |
Base Fares |
Day Pass |
7-Day Pass |
30-Day Pass |
| General | $1.75 | $5 | $20 | $60 |
| Youth (age 18 and under) | $1.75 | N/A | N/A | $45 |
| Senior / Disabled | 75¢ | $2.50 | $20 | $30 |
| Medicare Card Holder | 75¢ | $2.50 | $20 | $30 |
| Veteran | 75¢ | $2.50 | $20 | $30 |
| Child (46" tall or under) | 50¢ | N/A | N/A | N/A |
CommuterLink Fares | All customers ride free on Fridays through June 28, 2024 |
CommuterLink + Local |
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Fare Categories |
Base Fares |
Day Pass |
30-Day Pass |
| General | $3.50 | $10 | $95 |
| Youth (Age 18 and under) | $3.50 | N/A | N/A |
| Senior / Disabled | $2.75 | $7 | $70 |
| Medicare Card Holder | $2.75 | $7 | $70 |
| Veteran | $2.75 | $7 | $70 |
| Child (46" tall or under) | $2.75 | N/A | N/A |
Dial-A-Ride Fares |
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Fare Categories |
Base Fares |
Ticket Books |
| Senior / Disabled | $3.50 | $35 |
| Medicare Card Holder | $3.50 | $35 |
| Child (46" tall or under) | 75¢ | N/A |
| Depending on where your trip begins and ends, you may be required to transfer. Tickets are sold in quantities of 10 tickets. Dial-A-Ride tickets are not accepted on fixed-route buses. | ||
DEFINITIONS OF FARE CATEGORIES AND IDENTIFICATION
General
All customers except those who meet the qualifications for youth, senior, disabled or child fare categories. No identification is required for General fares.
Youth
Anyone age 18 and under. School-issued picture ID cards, a California driver’s license or any state-issued ID showing the rider is 18 or younger are appropriate identification. RTA also offers Youth identification cards to anyone 18 and under. A Youth ID card costs $2, please call (951) 565-5002 for more information on how to obtain one. College students pay General fare unless your school participates in the Go-Pass or U-Pass program.
Senior / Disabled / Medicare
Any person who meets RTA disability requirements, presents a valid Medicare card, or seniors age 60 or above are eligible for a discounted fare on all RTA fixed-route services. Medi-Cal cards will not be accepted. Customers must show appropriate ID each time they board a bus to receive the discounted fare.
RTA issued photo ID cards are available for senior and disabled customers. Please call (951) 565-5002 for the location and time to obtain your ID card. There is a $2 fee for the ID card. To receive a Disabled ID card, individuals must present a disabled ID card application form completed by a doctor or licensed health care professional or one of the following as proof of disability: Medicare Identification Card, Department of Motor Vehicles Disabled Person Placard Identification Card receipt, Braille Institute Identification Card, Disabled Veteran Service-Connected Identification Card, or a Social Security Income Award Letter. Medi-Cal cards will not be accepted. Applications are available at the RTA business office, online below or by calling our Customer Information Center at (951) 565-5002.
Veteran
Any person who meets RTA Veteran requirements, presents a valid U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs issued ID card or a U.S. Uniformed Services ID card indicating retired status. Customers must show appropriate ID each time they board a bus to receive the discounted fare.
RTA issued photo ID cards are available for veteran customers. Please call (951) 565-5002 for the location and time to obtain your ID card. There is a $2 fee for the ID card. To receive a Veteran ID card, individuals must present a Department of Defense Form 214 and a picture ID.
Active Duty Military, Police and Fire Personnel
Any person who meets RTA active duty military, police or fire personnel requirements rides free on RTA fixed-route buses. Active duty military personnel must wear the appropriate uniform at the time of boarding or present to the driver a valid U.S. Unformed Services ID card indicating active service or a Common Access card indicating uniformed services or active duty. Police and fire personnel must be in full uniform at the time of boarding. Customers must wear the appropriate uniform or show appropriate ID each time they board a bus to receive the discounted fare.
Jury/Grand Jurors Duty
All jurors summoned to serve in Riverside County courthouses are able to ride for free on all RTA buses while on active jury duty by showing their current and valid juror summons badge to the coach operator
Child
Height-based: 46" tall or under. Must be accompanied by a full-fare paying passenger.
ADA
The RTA Americans with Disabilities (ADA) ID card is for persons who have been specially certified through the RTA ADA Certification process. This ID may qualify you for priority service on any RTA Dial-A-Ride, Corona Dial-A-Ride, Riverside Special Transportation and Beaumont Dial-A-Ride. To become ADA certified, you are required to complete an application and provide a Healthcare Professional Verification form. For more information, call (951) 565-5002.
Commuter
Routes 200, 204 and 206 are commuter routes with fares of $3.50 for General and $2.75 for Senior/Disabled, Medicare and Veteran. Persons may also buy a CommuterLink + Local Pass which may be used on both local fixed routes and express routes.
Transfers
RTA has transfer agreements with the following transit agencies:
Corona Cruiser, Omnitrans and Pass Transit
Corona Cruiser, Omnitrans and Pass Transit (Banning and Beaumont) 1-Day and multi-day passes are accepted for base fare ($1.75 for General and Youth and $.75 for Senior/Disabled, Medicare and Veteran with proper ID) on local fixed route buses at transfer locations only. Not valid on CommuterLink or Dial-A-Ride.
Orange County Transportation Authority
OCTA 1-Day and multi-day are accepted on Route 200 in Orange County for base fare ($1.75 for General and $.75 for Senior/Disabled, Medicare and Veteran with proper ID). Additional fare is required. OCTA passes are not accepted in Riverside County.
Metrolink
RTA will accept valid Metrolink passes for the full fare on routes that serve Metrolink stations for customers traveling to or from a Metrolink station during the period from one hour before to one after Metrolink's service hours. The Metrolink pass must be valid on the day of travel. New, unvalidated 10-trip Metrolink passes carried by passengers traveling to Metrolink stations will also be accepted on boardings as those pass-holders are required to validate their new passes at the stations. Metrolink passes are not valid on Dial-A-Ride.
TYPES OF PASSES
1-Day Pass
1-Day passes are designed for the occasional rider who needs to transfer often. Customers may purchase a Local 1-Day Pass, valid on local fixed routes only, or a Local+CommuterLink 1-Day Pass valid on all local and commuter routes RTA operates. The 1-Day pass is good for unlimited travel on the day the pass is first used. Your 1-Day pass will be validated by the farebox and the effective date will be printed on the back of the pass. Please verify that the correct date has been printed. 1-Day passes are not transferable to another day and there are no refunds or exchanges for lost or stolen passes. Use of a Senior or Disabled 1-Day Pass requires proper identification each time you board a bus. 1-Day Passes are not accepted on Dial-A-Ride.
7-Day Pass
The 7-Day Pass is designed to provide an affordable alternative to RTA's monthly pass. Customers may purchase a Local 7-Day Pass, valid on local fixed routes only. The 7-Day Pass must be used over a consecutive seven-day period beginning after first use. The 7-Day Pass is not sold on the bus and is only available by presale. 7-Day passes are not valid on Dial-A-Ride.
30-Day Pass
30-Day passes are ideal for passengers who travel often on the RTA bus system. Customers may purchase a Local 30-Day Pass, valid on local fixed routes, or a Local+CommuterLink 30-Day Pass valid on all local and commuter routes RTA operates. The 30-Day Pass must be used over a consecutive 30-day period beginning after first use. The 30-Day Pass is not sold on the bus and is only available by presale.
Dial-A-Ride Tickets
Dial-A-Ride tickets are only sold in books of ten tickets each. You will be required to present a ticket each time you board a Dial-A-Ride bus. Some trips may require more than one ticket or boarding. Dial-A-Ride tickets are only valid on RTA Dial-A-Ride buses and not valid on local fixed route, CommuterLink or other transit agency buses.
ACTIVATING YOUR PASS
When you pre-purchase your 1-Day, 7-Day or 30-Day Pass, it will not be activated. You must activate the pass on the bus the first time you use it. To activate, insert the pass (printed side facing you with the arrow pointing down) in the activation slot on the top left side of the farebox. The farebox will print the effective dates on the back of the pass. Then, all you have to do is swipe your pass on all other buses you board and ride.