RTA to phase out cash on-board vehicles and exclusively accept Tapp Pay

The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (RTA) has announced that it will be retiring its fare boxes effective 1 November 2021, as the next step in the process of migrating customers to its new fare payment system, Tapp Pay. As a result, customers will no longer be able to use cash on-board RTA vehicles.

Currently, 90 per cent of RTA customers are already using Tapp Pay. The system will save most customers money and allow everyone to hold onto their money longer, said Chief Customer and Business Development Officer, Brandon Policicchio.

Tapp Pay, first introduced via the Transit app in June 2020, offers fares at a discounted rate through fare capping. Customers are capped in the amount that they pay within a given timeframe once they have ridden enough times to accumulate the equivalent of Tapp Pay’s promotional daily cap ($3) or promotional 31-day monthly cap ($30). A single trip for a regular adult rider costs $1.50 with Tapp Pay, versus RTA’s $2 single-trip cash fare. Once a cap is reached, customers pay no additional charges. This means that no matter how many essential trips a customer takes throughout a given day or rolling 31-day period, any additional trips during that period of time will be at no charge.

“By using Tapp Pay, we are able to provide equity to cash paying customers, who are often low-income riders, as they often end up spending twice as much just because they couldn’t afford the upfront cost of a traditional monthly pass. The savings start immediately. Riders will tap and go when they board, leading to faster boarding times and more reliable services in the absence of cash transactions on the vehicle,” said Policicchio.

Customers can use Tapp Pay on either a smartphone by downloading Transit app in the Google Play or App store, or via a Tapp Pay card. Tapp Pay cards can be obtained at any RTA transit centre. Funds can be added to Tapp Pay accounts at a payment kiosk at any transit centre using a debit or credit card, or with cash at Wright Stop Plaza. In addition, customers can use cash to load value onto their account at more than 200 retail locations located within close proximity to the RTA bus route network. This includes all CVS, Walgreens, Dollar General, Family Dollar and Speedway locations.

Any card can be registered to an account by linking it on the Tapp Pay Hub. Linking a card to an account gives customers the benefit of being able to see their account balance; track their travel and when they have been capped; and manage their funds; as well as have the ability to have a card closed out and the balance transferred over to a new card should it ever be lost or stolen. It is very important for customers to register their Tapp Pay card, e.g., if a card is not registered to an account and is lost or stolen, the funds will not be able to be transferred to a new card.

RTA will no longer use fare boxes as of 1 November 2021, so customers are encourage to download the Transit app or get a Tapp Pay card to prepare for the change.