Omnitrans offers new mobile fare discounts

Omnitrans bus riders will save on single rides and 1-day passes starting September 4, 2018, if they purchase discounted 10-packs available through the Token Transit mobile fare app. The transit agency also will stop accepting pennies on board.

A ten pack of full fare single rides will be $16 compared to costing $17.50 if purchased separately. A ten pack of full fare 1-day passes will be $45 instead of $50. Reduced fares are offered for seniors age 62 and up, people with disabilities, military veterans and youth age 18 and under.

“Mobile fare payment is used for about five percent of all passenger boardings currently,” said Omnitrans spokesperson Wendy Williams. “We are introducing the 10-pack discounts to encourage more customers to switch to mobile.”

Omnitrans implemented mobile fares in August 2017. Customers can use their phone to purchase single rides or 1-day, 71-day and 31-day passes. The Token Transit app is free at Google Play and the App Store. Texting “TOKEN” to 41411 will generate a download link.

In an effort to speed up boarding times and reduce service calls, Omnitrans will stop accepting pennies for on board payment beginning September 4th. “We don’t receive a lot of pennies overall,” explained Williams, “but when a customer pulls out a handful of pennies to pay a $1.75 fare, it’s time consuming and sometimes leads to a jammed up fare box. Then we need to send a supervisor out to make repairs on route, causing further delays.”

Omnitrans operates 35 bus routes which serve the San Bernardino Valley. On a typical weekday, the transit agency transports about 35,000 passengers.