Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) is doing away with their paper day and monthly passes. Effective this Wednesday, metro and rail trip purchases will switch entirely to the 'MetGo' app and card system, a contactless payment method which stands to save public transportation user's time and money.
"Starting Wednesday, gates will be closed, we have gates in the underground station and individuals will have to use their MetGo app or new MetGo card to access the underground stations to be able to get in and get out [of the stations]," explains James Morrell, NFTA's Director of Public Transit. "Our buses have already been outfitted with the new MetGo fare boxes, and individuals have already been using those for several months right now while we were testing, and the system is ready to go for Wednesday."
Users can now swipe their MetGo cards or smartphones with money loaded onto the card or phone using credit or debit cards and essentially, scan and go. You can still pay cash to a bus driver, but you'll be missing the value if you're going to ride more than twice in a day.
Instead of buying $5 day passes, you will now be charged for the amount of trips a day, capped at $5 for three or more trips in a day.
"When you get on your first bus and tap, $2 will come off. You get on a second bus, $2 will come off. And when you get on the third bus or train, only $1 will come off the account. That means that you will pay no more than $5 throughout your journey in one day," Morrell said.
In addition, children ages 9 and under can now ride free with a paying adult, capped at a maximum of three children.
The implementation of the gates will also prevent those from getting free rides, as previously the underground portions of public transit operated on the honor system, with random checks from ticket inspectors.
"Fare evasion has always been an issue," says Morrell. "Our ticket inspectors have changed their role to become now transit ambassadors. We have more of them in the system, and basically what we'll be doing is helping individuals navigate through the system."
The new system will require you to check-in and check-out to ensure that you didn't leave without paying.
The MetGo app is available on both iPhone and Android platforms.
Riders can purchase their MetGo card for only $2.00 at the NFTA’s customer service center at 181 Ellicott Street. Cards are also available for purchase at participating 7-Eleven, Walgreens, and Walmart stores.
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