SacRT and Cal-ITP partner to offer new Digital ID service, and discount fare for military veterans

The Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) is putting out the word about dramatic upcoming 2025 service improvements for eligible riders, and in particular for Sacramento-area military veterans and seniors. 

Early next year, SacRT passengers will be able to pay bus and light rail fares in the same easy way many now buy a cup of coffee or purchase their weekly groceries at the store. 

 They’ll simply tap their credit card or debit card on card reader devices that SacRT plans to locate on station platforms and on all buses, including SacRT GO paratransit services shuttles. 

This new “Tap2Ride” program is part of a cutting-edge Digital ID partnership between SacRT and the state of California Integrated Travel Project (Cal-ITP), designed to make riding and operating public transit easier, faster, less expensive for some, and more convenient for all.  

At the same time, SacRT is laying plans to offer some 60,000 military veterans in the greater Sacramento area a half-price discount fare as part of a six-month pilot program in partnership with Cal-ITP. 

“We are on the cusp of something very exciting here – the planned discount fares for military veterans are a first at SacRT and are a long time coming,” SacRT General Manager/CEO Henry Li said. “In this modern era, fare payments are going to get a lot easier because they are integrated into our customers’ everyday lives. You simply use the card you already have in your wallet or purse.” 

“We are very excited to implement this discount for those who have served our country,” SacRT Board Chair and Sacramento County Supervisor Patrick Kennedy said. “Thanks to our partnership with the state, we are implementing a fare program for other regions across the state to follow.” 

SacRT expects to have the “Tap2Ride” program up and running in early 2025 after SacRT has installed card readers at transit stations and inside the entrance to all buses; however military veterans can sign up for the program now. SacRT will be putting out more information to riders in the coming months, including information about the formal start date for the program. 

Once SacRT implements the program, participating passengers will no longer need to carry a transit card, a monthly pass, a phone app, or even cash if they don’t want to. Passengers, however, can also still use those other fare payment methods if they choose to. 

Over the next year, SacRT will merge all its fare payment modes and supporting mobile apps into a single consolidated app. 

To prepare for the new veteran discount fares, SacRT is now asking local veterans to begin pre-registering now at the state of California website, https://benefits.calitp.org/. 

That state registration website is connected to the federal Department of Veterans Affairs database, which will automatically verify whether a person qualifies for a veteran’s discount. The registration will be quick and easy and will allow veterans to link their discount fares to their credit or debit card. 

“The veteran discount program will initially be a six-month trial. SacRT’s hope; however, is to continue it permanently,” said Casey Courtright, SacRT’s Director of Office Management & Budget. 

“During the six months, we will conduct a (Civil Rights Act) Title VI analysis to assess if the program is benefiting low income and minorities and not adversely impacting them,” Courtright said. “And we will solicit rider feedback. The SacRT board will decide then if it should continue the program.” 

Certain seniors also will benefit from the Cal-ITP Digital ID system, starting next year when SacRT has its “Tap2Ride” system in place. Those who are 65 and older can choose to qualify for a SacRT senior discount pass and to use their credit or debit cards by signing up on the state registration system, which is simple and does not require riders to provide verifying details. That system taps into the federal Social Security Administration database. To prepare, seniors aged 65 and older can also pre-register now at the state of California website, https://benefits.calitp.org. SacRT at the same time will continue to offer discount senior passes to people aged 62 and older via its internal system. 

  The “Tap2Ride” fare program and the upcoming veterans’ discounts are just two new ways SacRT is stepping into the modern era. The new programs come on the heels of SacRT’s September launch of modern low-floor light rail vehicles on the Gold Line, making boarding more accessible.  

The new programs are made possible by SacRT’s ongoing relationship with the state. 

Five years ago, in 2019, the state launched a cutting-edge program called the California Integrated Travel Project (Cal-ITP) to help transit agencies like SacRT modernize their fare payment systems and to make riding transit an easy, intuitive and predictable experience that puts riders at the heart of transit planning. 

The state’s Cal-ITP program is administered via the state Department of Transportation (Caltrans) as well as the California State Transportation Agency and the state Department of Technology. 

“Caltrans is proud to be partnering with SacRT to demonstrate how California is leading the way nationally on creating an equitable, sustainable, and customer-friendly transportation system,” said Gillian Gillett, Caltrans’ Integrated Mobility Program Manager. “Cal-ITP works with transit agencies in the Golden State, but also assists state agencies as well, helping to improve the transit experience throughout the country.” 

The idea, state officials say, is to think and act less like a government bureaucracy and more like a technology company, thus making transit easier for everyone. 

“Caltrans is laser focused on the customer and eliminating barriers to use through the adoption of low-cost technology solutions,” Gillett said. “These philosophies are demonstrated in the ‘Tap2Ride’ program.” 

One of the state’s key goals is to eventually allow transit riders to use their credit or debit cards to seamlessly ride on most transit systems in California with a universal system. 

That effort has become even more important, state officials said, “as transit agencies across the country seek to rebuild their ridership in the post (COVID-19) pandemic era of increased remote work.” 

“Over the last five years, Cal-ITP has helped transit agencies of all sizes in California and beyond procure and implement the technological tools necessary to make the rider experience more customer-friendly,” Gillett said. “Users can now pay with credit or debit cards, fleet vehicles can be tracked in real time on mobile phone apps, and riders can access their benefits seamlessly.” 

The state also has negotiated contract templates in advance with private companies that provide “Tap2Ride” program hardware and services, so that local transit agencies like SacRT don’t have to deal with the difficulties of individually negotiating contracts. 

The “Tap2Ride” fare collection system includes software that automatically makes sure each passenger pays the lowest fares possible depending on how many times a day, week and month that person rides, SacRT’s Courtright said. That process, called “fare capping,” will make the new fare payment simpler for riders. 

“You don’t have to decide, for instance, whether to buy a single ride ticket or day pass. The system will figure out the best fare for you,” Courtright said. 

State officials point out that nearly a quarter of Californians do not have credit or debit cards, or do not have bank accounts. To rectify that for transit riders who don’t have bank accounts, but want to pay via a debit card, Cal-ITP officials say they have worked with payment networks to create financial accounts for those riders. 

“If a debit or credit card is all a rider needs to gain access to this transit option, it creates a strong incentive for the 25 percent of Californians who are un- or under-banked to join the digital banking ecosystem and avoid onerous charges and fees,” state officials said. 

SacRT will continue working in the coming months on the implementation of its “Tap2Ride” system and will offer further announcements and updates for our riders as we lead up to a 2025 launch date. Learn more about the program at sacrt.com/tap2ride.