RTA to exclusively accept Tapp Pay; phasing out cash on-board vehicles November 1

For Immediate Release

MEDIA CONTACT:  Jessica Olson (937) 425-8352, Communications Manager

(DAYTON, Ohio)— The Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (RTA) will be retiring its fare boxes effective Nov. 1, 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 onboard RTA vehicles.

Currently, 90 percent 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 & Business Development Officer Brandon Policicchio.

Tapp Pay, first introduced via the Transit app in June 2020, offers fare at a discounted rate through fare capping. Customers are capped in the amount 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 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,” Policicchio said. “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.”

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 center. Funds can be added to Tapp Pay accounts at a payment kiosk at any transit center 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. To load funds online, or to find a complete list can of vendors to load fare, visit Tapp Pay.

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, manage their funds, and 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, for example, 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 Nov. 1, so customers are encourage to download Transit app or get a Tapp Pay card today to prepare for the change. For more information on Tapp Pay, visit RTA’s website here.