What is fare capping? (The Benefit for You)
Fare capping ensures you always get the best deal. It gives you the savings of a daily, 7-day, or monthly pass — without the stress of paying for one upfront.
Lowest fare guaranteed
Every time you tap or scan, the system tracks your spending. Once you reach the price of a pass, you stop being charged; the rest of your rides for that period are free.
Pay as you go
You don’t need to have the full cost of a pass available upfront. Just add funds to your account (via cash or credit) and tap as you go.
Convenience
No need to plan in advance. Just tap or scan, ride, and save!
How to Get Started in 3 Easy Steps
- Step 1
Get an account
You can use a physical GCRTA Smartcard or download the free EZfare or Transit apps.
- Step 2
Load funds
Add money to your account using a credit card, debit card, or cash at any participating VanillaDirect retail location.
- Step 3
Tap or scan
Simply tap your Smartcard or scan your app's QR code every single time you board a vehicle.
Three Ways to Pay
You have three convenient ways to pay your GCRTA fare and tap into automatic savings — start with a GCRTA Smartcard, or use the Transit and EZfare apps on your phone.
Meet the GCRTA Smartcard
The GCRTA Smartcard is your physical card to access these savings. It is a durable, reloadable card that makes boarding fast and easy.
Cost
A new or replacement Smartcard costs $5.00. Please add additional funds to the card before riding.
No Expiration
Smartcards do not expire, and your loaded funds remain valid for five (5) years.
Where to buy
Purchase yours online at the GCRTA Online Store or in person at the Tower City Customer Service Center.
Where to reload
Reload your GCRTA Smartcard with cash at any participating VanillaDirect retail location or at the Tower City Customer Service Center.
Mobile Payment Options
Prefer to pay with your phone? Choose an app below to get started.
SmartRT's Pro-Tips for riders
To make the most of the new system, keep these tips from SmartRT in mind.
You must tap your card or scan your app every single time you board to ensure the trip counts toward your fare cap.
Register your Smartcard online. If a registered card is lost or stolen, it can be recovered and your funds transferred to a new card.
The validator will show different colors:
Do not insert your Smartcard into the farebox; use the validator to tap your card.
Accounts are only valid for one person at a time. You cannot scan the same account or card twice for different people during the same trip.
Visit any participating VanillaDirect retail location to add between $2 and $100 in cash to your card or app.
Fare capping limits
Your rides are automatically capped based on your rider category. Once you hit these totals, your rides are free for the rest of that day, week, or month.
| Category | Daily cap | 7-Day cap | Monthly cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Fare | $5.00 | $25.00 | $95.00 |
| Reduced Fare (Senior / Disabled) | $2.50 | $12.50 | $48.00 |
| Student (K–12) | $4.25 | $25.00 | $95.00 |
| Paratransit | $7.00 | $30.00 | $110.00 |
- Daily caps reset at 3:00 AM the next day.
- 7-Day caps last for seven days from your first tap.
- Monthly caps reset on the 1st of every calendar month.
Important Things To Remember
- What Doesn't Count: Cash paid directly into a bus farebox, and pre-purchased fare cards and passes do not count toward your fare capping progress.
- Check Your Status: You can check your balance and progress toward a cap directly in the apps or by visiting the EZfare website.
Frequently asked questions
Use this guide to understand how the GCRTA Smartcard, the Transit app, and the EZfare app help you save money automatically through fare capping.
What is Account-Based Ticketing (ABT)?
ABT is a ticketless system where your transit access is linked to an account or "token" (like a Smartcard or mobile app) instead of a physical paper or digital pass.
Your trips are tracked automatically, making you eligible for fare capping. Instead of buying a pre-purchased pass upfront, you simply add funds to your account (via cash or credit) and tap as you go. ABT requires maintaining an account balance and scanning every time you ride to ensure fare capping.
What is Fare Capping?
Fare capping is a benefit of ABT that ensures you always get the best deal. Once you activate fare capping, your individual rides add up to the cost of a daily, 7-day, or monthly pass, you won't be charged for additional rides during that period. It gives you the savings of a pass without the upfront cost. This feature does not cost anything extra.
Is GCRTA getting rid of cash or regular tickets?
We are not discontinuing any purchasing methods or fare media. You will still be able to use cash. Digital and physical fare media will still be available for purchase.
How do I Fare Cap?
Tap or Scan your smartcard or app every time you board. The system will 'cap' you when you reach a fare capping limit.
What qualifies as an "Account" or "Token"?
You have three main options for using these new features:
- GCRTA Smartcard (Physical card).
- EZfare App (On your mobile phone).
- Transit App (On your mobile phone).
How is this different from the current apps?
Same apps with new features. Add funds to your account on either app and fare capping will automatically be enabled.