Tap-n-Ride contactless fare payment on RTD transit now available
Regional Transportation District riders can now tap Visa or Mastercard credit, debit or prepaid cards directly on bus and rail fare validators to pay fares under a contactless system launched Nov. 25.
A demonstration video on how to use the system is available on RTD’s website.
The Tap-n-Ride option lets passengers ticket themselves in seconds without cash, vending machines or preloaded accounts. Mobile wallets, including Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay, also work on phones or watches.
Debra A. Johnson, RTD general manager and CEO, called the upgrade seamless and equitable. She said the system removes barriers so riders simply tap and board.
Payments run through a certified open system that never stores card numbers, the agency stated. American Express and Discover cards will join the program in early 2026.
Riders using the same card or device automatically receive transfers within three hours and daily or monthly fare capping. Each traveler must present a separate card or device during inspections.
Discounted fares from the Liability Income-Based Fare Equity program still apply when customers link cards to MyRide accounts. Young people 19 and younger ride free under a separate initiative.
Validators capable of contactless payments sit on 952 fixed-route buses and at 235 rail stations district-wide. The hardware arrived in 2022.
A 2024 onboard survey showed roughly 90 percent of riders carry credit, debit or prepaid cards. RTD officials project 15% adoption by the end of 2026, based on experience at peer agencies.
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