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New Technologies Enable SARTA To Go Paperless After Dec. 31, 2022
August 1, 2022
Change Being Driven by Faster, Easier, More Convenient Ways to Pay Bus Fare, Contactless Trend in Transportation.
Change Being Driven by Faster, Easier, More Convenient Ways to Pay Bus Fare, Contactless Trend in Transportation.
CANTON — The Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA) today announced it will no longer accept paper tickets and passes after Dec. 31, 2022. Paper passes and tickets are being eliminated in favor of more modern methods of payment that make it faster, easier, and more convenient for riders to purchase and utilize bus transportation.
As part of the announcement, SARTA provided the following milestone dates for its paperless transition:
- Final day to purchase paper tickets/passes, including the 31 Day Proline Pass (paper and EZFare) — Oct. 31, 2022
- Last day paper tickets and passes will be accepted, including the 31 Day Proline Pass — Dec. 31, 2022
- Final day change cards and paper transfers will be distributed — Dec. 31, 2022
- Last day change cards and paper transfers will be accepted — Dec. 31, 2022
Eliminating paper tickets and passes is expected to result in less downtime, a reduction in overtime and maintenance costs, the elimination of supply chain paper delivery delays, and increased operational efficiencies. The move also is in line with trends in the transportation industry to move toward contactless payment options for riders.
The reloadable SARTA SCORE Card is a plastic tap card designed for repeated use. The SCORE acronym stands for Secure, Convenient, Orderly, Reloadable, and Economical. The SARTA Touch Down Card is a tap card made of heavy laminated paper. It is not reloadable and is intended for passengers who travel less frequently. All transfers will be electronically embedded in SARTA tap cards.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2023, riders will only be able to use the following payment methods to secure bus transportation:
- SARTA SCORE Card
- SARTA Touch Down Card
- SARTA EZFare App
- Cash/Exact Change- Change will not be given on any SARTA vehicle or at any SARTA Transit Center if cash greater than your fare amount is used for a purchase on the farebox.
“These payment options provide a secure and fast way to travel throughout Stark County,” said SARTA CEO Kirt Conrad. “We’re constantly looking for ways to improve the transportation experience for SARTA riders. Embracing modern technology like smart cards certainly contributes to a better overall experience.”
Conrad said, as an example, that tapping a SARTA SCORE Card or SARTA Touch Down Card is more convenient and streamlines the payment process, which enables riders to board more efficiently.
While SARTA has always accepted cash and the SARTA EZFare App has been an option for several years, the SARTA SCORE Card was launched in July and the SARTA Touch Down card will be launched later this year.
Riders that use SARTA’s EZFare app will also begin to see EZFare Validators on SARTA buses in early August. These validators will allow riders to activate their pass and scan the QR code on the screen while boarding to validate and pay for their fare. This addition to SARTA’s buses in the coming months will enhance the touchless boarding process for those with mobile tickets.
New fare boxes on SARTA vehicles can read the cards with radio frequency technology, enabling riders to hold the cards a short distance from the fare box without swiping. SARTA riders can purchase cards at any transit center location, visit www.sartaonline.com/tapcard to create an account, or call SARTA at 330-477-2782.
For more information about these changes, call SARTA Customer Service at 330-477-2782.