ConnectCard is here!

ConnectCard is here!

The ConnectCard was officially released today. This is a fare payment card that can be used on SacRT today, and the other regional systems early next year. It can be loaded at some light rail stations, at the service center, or online, and can have an auto-load set up with a credit card.

connectcardI (Dan) picked up a card this afternoon from the SacRT service center at the 13th St light rail station and set up an autoload. It has not loaded yet, so I can’t report any experience with use. Since I already had a senior pass, the ConnectCard has a new senior pass with photo on the back. I don’t know if the regular fare cards have a photo or not.

Below is the email received, announcing the program.

Connect Card is Here for Sacramento Regional Transit Riders!

That’s right, we are thrilled to announce the Connect Card is ready for Sacramento Regional Transit! You are one of our early adopters, and will have the unique opportunity to provide feedback on your experience enabling us to make improvements to the system–thank you! Are you ready to get started? Here are the five steps to get you on your way!

1. Check Your Eligibility

Do you ride Regional Transit? If yes, you’re eligible! The Connect Card system will only work on Regional Transit buses and light rail until the system fully launches early next year. The other eight transit systems will begin using the Connect Card in 2017–we will be sure to give you more details.

2. Get & Register Your Connect Card

You can request a Connect Card in person at the RT Customer Service and Sales Center (1225 R St, Sacramento) between 9:00am-5:30pm Monday-Friday or order online at connecttransitcard.com. Early adopters will get your Connect Cards for free – so save money and sign up now. Once you have your Connect Card, make sure to register it online to take advantage of benefits like balance protection, Auto Load and more. Discount cards will be automatically registered when purchased. If you order a Connect Card online, it will be mailed to you within three business days. 

3. Load Fare

  • In person at the RT Customer Service and Sales Center.
  • Online at ConnectTransitCard.com – Online Connect Card purchases require adding at least $5 Cash Value or a monthly pass.  Cash Value added online may take up to 48 hours to appear on your Connect Card.
  • Add Fare Machines at select light rail stations using a credit/debit card. Visit the Connect Card website for the most updated list for Add Fare Machine locations.

4. Tap and Go!

Each time you board the bus, simply tap your Connect Card on the reader. Prior to boarding light rail, tap your Connect Card on the reader on the station platform.

5. Provide Feedback

With your help, we can find problems and fix them quickly.  Help by providing feedback using any of the following:

4 thoughts on “ConnectCard is here!”

  1. After more than 48 hours, my cards shows online as having no value loaded, but I used it this afternoon, and it does indeed have value, and correctly subtracted my fare for a light rail trip. The tap stations and purchase stations seem to work correctly, the website does not.

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  2. The tap stations at light rail (the smaller tap devices) may deduct a fare too soon when you are trying to change fare types (regular or discount, single or daily). Press the buttons first to select what you want, then bring your card up to the reader area. ConnectCard is aware of the problem and will change the wording of the displays soon.

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  3. The ConnectCard initially provided a bus-and-rail 90 minute time frame for single ride fares. However, it was changed so that bus and rail are now separate systems, so transferring from rail to bus or bus to rail requires additional payment. The smartphone app does not distinguish between bus and rail, so does not require an additional payment.

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  4. Though it is supposed to be possible to purchase a ConnectCard day pass on a bus, apparently drivers do not know how to do this. I did not realize this because all of my combined trips started on light rail, where the larger devices allow specification of single ride or day pass.

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