I am riding with children. What are my options?
I heard that customers now have to pay a separate fare on each bus or train. Is this true?
I have an RTA Senior ID Card. The All-Day Pass is expensive for me. What can I do?
I don’t ride often, and when I do, it is normally one-way only. What should I do?
Can two or more riders use the same farecard per trip?
I ride two buses daily to get to work and also two buses to get home from work. What other options do I have besides the All-Day Pass? I often work less than five days per week.
Can I use a Bus/Rapid farecard or Pass to ride any bus or train?
I’m considering the 7-Day Pass. How does it work?
Do passes and farecards expire?
Can you explain how riders can transfer to RTA from another transit agency?
I ride an RTA bus that crosses the county line. What should I do?
I ride RTA several times every day, often every day of the week. What type of pass or farecard offers the most benefits and savings?
I understand that RTA policies permit uniformed police officers to ride free. Who else is permitted free ride privileges on RTA service?
What is the policy for service animals or emotional support animals?
Q I am riding with children. What are my options?
RTA offers the Accompanied Child All-Day Pass. It is available for purchase wherever fares are paid. The cost is the same as the Senior/Disabled All-Day Pass. When one adult, age 18 years or older, pays full fare in cash or with RTA fare media, up to three children, younger than age 6, ride for free, and up to three children, age 6-12, each pay a Child's fare for unlimited travel, when accompanied by an adult.
Q I heard that customers have to pay a separate fare on each bus or train. Is this true?
Transfer privileges are included in all RTA fare media: the All-Day Pass, 7-Day Pass, Monthly Pass and 5-trip farecards. RTA riders paying cash do not receive transfers and should consider purchasing farecards or passes. Individual All-Day Passes are valid for unlimited rides for one passenger on all routes and services until the expiration time printed on the pass. All-Day Passes purchased before 9:30 p.m. are valid until 3 a.m. the next day. All-Day Passes purchased after 9:30 p.m. are valid until 3 a.m. the second day after issuance.
Q I have an RTA Senior ID Card. The All-Day Pass is expensive for me. What can I do?
Seniors and disabled riders with a RTA-issued ID Card can purchase an All-Day Senior/Disabled Pass. They are valid for unlimited rides for one passenger on all fixed-route service until the expiration time printed on the pass. You can also purchase Senior/Disabled farecards.
Q I don’t ride often, and when I do, it is normally one-way only. What should I do?
All one-way riders who transfer can avoid extra charges by using RTA's 5-trip farecards, which have built-in 2.5-hour transfer privileges. All one-way riders who transfer should select whichever type of farecard best fits your needs:
- Bus/Rapid
- Park-N-Ride
- Senior/Disabled with RTA ID, or Medicare card and photo ID
Farecards can be purchased on-line, at the RTA Customer Service Center in Tower City, or from more than 150 stores located throughout Greater Cleveland.
Q Can two or more riders use the same farecard?
No.
Q I ride two buses daily to get to work and two buses to get home from work. I often work less than five days per week. What other options do I have besides the All-Day Pass?
You can buy 5-trip Bus/Rapid farecards. Instead of receiving a separate transfer, the 5-trip Farecard will print the expiration date and time when you use it for the first time. Passengers paying fares with farecards are able to use their farecards as a transfer for 2.5 hours after the first use.
Q Can I use a Bus/Rapid farecard or Pass to ride any bus or train?
The Bus/Rapid farecard and Bus/Rapid Passes are valid on all RTA bus, HealthLine BRT, and rail services with no additional charge. An additional 25 cents is required for Park-N-Ride bus service.
Q I’m considering the 7-Day Pass. How does it work?
The 7-Day Passes offer great convenience, because they are not limited to one calendar week. Instead, the pass is activated for the 7-day period the first time it is inserted into the farebox. So, if you begin using the 7-Day Pass on Wednesday, it is good through the following Tuesday.
Q Do passes and farecards expire?
Yes. All preprinted fare media distributed by the GCRTA have a definitive expiration date on both the front and back of the document. The expiration date is posted as “MUST BE USED PRIOR TO XX.XX.XX”. Upon request, unused, non-expired, preprinted fare media can be exchanged for the same pass and fare type. No exchanges will be allowed after the Must be used prior to expiration date. Student tickets will not be exchanged.
All fare media purchased from GCRTA Customer Service Kiosk (“CSK”) terminals expire six months from the date of purchase. The expiration date is printed on the back of the document as “MUST BE USED PRIOR TO XX.XX.XX”. Unless defective, fare media purchased from a CSK cannot be exchanged.
There will be no cash refunds and there will be no exchanges for fare media that is past the expiration date.
Q Can you explain how riders can transfer to RTA from another transit agency?
Passengers presenting a valid transfer from Akron Metro RTA, Laketran, Lorain County Transit, Medina County Transit, PARTA, or Brunswick Transit are entitled to one free boarding on any connecting RTA service. Operators will not issue any additional documents -- including courtesy transfers -- to the passenger.
Q I ride an RTA bus that crosses the county line. What should I do?
The out-of-county fare applies only to passengers traveling to, from or within Medina County.
- For cash customers, $1 plus the Park-N-Ride Bus fare.
- For customers using Park-N-Ride fare media or an All-Day Pass: $1.
- For customers bus/Rapid fare media: $1.25.
- For customers using Senior/Disabled cash fare or fare media: $0.
- For customers using U-Pass: $0.
- This information will be updated in August 2018.
Q I ride RTA several times every day, often every day of the week. What type of pass or farecard offers the most benefits and savings?
Monthly Passes offer great savings and convenience for RTA customers. The passes are available at the RTA Customer Service Center and many of the RTA outlets throughout Cuyahoga County, or can be purchased on-line.
Q I understand that RTA policy permits uniformed police officers to ride free. Who else is permitted free ride privileges on RTA service?
The following individuals are permitted to ride free on all RTA bus, rail and BRT service:
- Only duly appointed, regular, full-time Municipal or State Highway Patrol Officers, when in uniform, are permitted to ride free. Those not in uniform are not entitled to free-ride privileges and must pay the appropriate fare. Firefighters, EMS, and other public employees must pay the appropriate fare.
- All persons on active duty with the USA Armed Forces while in uniform.
- ADA Paratransit cardholders must pay Senior/Disabled fare on fixed-route service.
- Personal care assistants (PCAs) must pay the appropriate fare on fixed-route service.
Q Service Animals vs. Emotional Support Animals
Service Animals
- The ADA defines service animals as dogs and other animals that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties.
- Service animals are permitted to board any RTA vehicle or enter any RTA facility. Customers are not required to carry any documentation to show that the animal is a service animal .
- Service animals may not occupy a seat and may not remain in the aisle. We ask customers to please place service animals in the area under the customer’s seat.
- Service animals must remain under the customer’s control and may not pose a direct threat to the safety or health of drivers or other riders.
Pets /Emotional Support Animals
- Large pets (over 25 pounds) may not board RTA vehicles, but customers may travel with small pets (weighing 25 pounds or less) if the pet is in a carrier.
- The small pet must remain in the carrier and under the customer’s control at all times.
- Pet carriers may not occupy a seat and may not remain in the aisle; we ask you to place the pet carrier in the area under your seat.