This week RTS introduced a new Tap & Go! RTS Fast Pass. The new fare card lets customers simply tap it on the fare box (on the bulls-eye) when boarding. When the fare is accepted the fare box will beep or you will hear “fare deducted” to know you have successfully paid your fare.

If customers make use of the new Tap & Go! cards they should make boarding a lot faster which would be a good thing for everyone. Currently, riders insert their fare card into a slot and then must wait a moment for the card to pop back out – or worse, fumble for change. And when you serve thousands of riders every day, those seconds add up.

In addition to quicker boarding times, RTS CEO Bill Carpenter says the new technology at the fare box also lays the groundwork for improved payment options in the future. “The information and experience we gain from the Tap & Go! passes represents the first step toward technological improvements that may include refillable bus passes, fare boxes that accept credit card payments, mobile payment options on smart phones, and a Tap & Go! smart phone app.”

For many of us transit fans, those features can’t come fast enough. But for now, here is what customers need to know about Tap & Go!:

• Tap & Go! passes are available for purchase online at myRTS.com, or one of the ticket vending machines at the RTS Transit Center or the RTS Administration Building.
• They are available as a 5-Day Unlimited, 31-Day Unlimited, and stored value pass.
• The pass is activated with the first tap on the bus.
• Customers can check their card balance at any RTS ticket vending machine.
• Tap & Go! RTS Fast Passes are not currently refillable.
• The old magnetic fare cards in other denominations are still available.

Also… New Text Message and Email Alerts

And in case you missed it, last month RTS introduced another way for customers to receive service and schedule announcements: via email or text message. Transit riders with smartphones and the RTS Where’s My Bus App already receive timely alerts and information through the app. Text and Email alerts now give customers another option.

To sign up, you can either fill out the subscription form online or in person at the Transit Center.

Or simply text the words “OPT IN RTS ALL” to (585) 433-0855. If you only want alerts for a specific route, replace the word “ALL” with your specific route number. For example, to sign up for text message alerts for the Route 1 Lake, text “OPT IN RTS 1.”

You can also opt-in for information outside Monroe County. Simply follow the same instructions above, but use your county code listed below:

• RTS Genesee: “OPT IN GEN ALL” or “OPT IN GEN 1”
• RTS Livingston: “OPT IN LIV ALL” or “OPT IN LIV 1”
• RTS Ontario: “OPT IN ONT ALL” or “OPT IN ONT 1”
• RTS Orleans: “OPT IN ORL ALL”
• RTS Seneca: “OPT IN SEN ALL” or “OPT IN SEN 3”
• RTS Wayne: “OPT IN WAY ALL”
• RTS Wyoming: “OPT IN WYO ALL” or “OPT IN WYO 1”