HoCo Riders Can Use Special App To Pay For RTA Trips

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — An innovative partnership has been formed between the Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland, the Transit mobile app and Token Transit, which gives riders the ability to plan, track and pay for their RTA trip on the same platform, a first in the state of Maryland.

Transit was endorsed by the RTA in September 2020 as the agency’s official app for riders to plan trips and track their bus in real time. The partnership with Token Transit is more user friendly, with the new digital and touch-free fare payment component, as riders can simply display their activated pass to the driver.

“These are long-awaited and welcome improvements to our RTA riders and marks the next step in implementing our Transit Development Plan as we improve mobility for Howard County residents,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said in a statement. “Additionally, this touch-free technology allows for increased safety for riders and drivers during the ongoing pandemic. Thank you to all of our partners for making these enhancements possible, we’re on our way to creating a system that works for more of our community.”

Fare capping and free transfers are available when fares are purchased within the Transit app. Fare capping ensures riders receive the best fare offered by the RTA; once riders’ one-way fares equal what would have paid for an unlimited pass, they are automatically upgraded and refunded the difference. One-way fares purchased within the app are valid for 90 minutes, making any transfers within that window free system-wide, providing transit access within Howard, Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties and the city of Laurel.

Transit is available to download for iPhone and Android at www.transitapp.com or www.transitRTA.com/realtime.