How to Pay

Use your contactless credit or debit card, smartphone, wearable device or a TAP card to pay at bus validators, rail gates or turnstiles before you board. The system automatically charges the correct fare.

Pay with a Bank Card or a TAP Card

Our system accepts the following fare payment methods:

  • A credit, debit or prepaid bank card or a TAP card in your digital wallet on your smartphone, smartwatch or wearable device
    • Cards issued by American Express, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Union Pay and VISA are accepted.
    • Google Wallet, Apple Wallet and Samsung Wallet are supported
  • A plastic contactless credit, debit or prepaid bank card with the contactless symbol 
    • Cards issued by American Express, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Union Pay and VISA are accepted.
  • A TAP card
    • Plastic cards or virtual cards added to the TAP app and Apple Wallet on your smartphone
  • Cash (USD)
    • Accepted at a bus farebox only

Group Payment  (Credit/Debit Card Only)

TAP allows groups of up to 5 riders traveling together to pay with one credit or debit card.

  • Rides for each member of the group are charged at full fare.
  • Each member of the group receives free transfers, provided the same card is tapped to transfer. If the groups splits up, riders not traveling with the cardholder will not be eligible for a free transfer and will be required to pay a new base fare.
  • A group payment earns one paid ride toward the cardholder’s fare cap.
  • Tap a credit/debit card on the TAP target once for each person in your group. Based on the number of taps, the gate will open (for a maximum of 30 seconds) to allow that many riders to pass. When all riders have passed, the gate will close.
  • Alternatively, you may tap a credit/debit card on the TAP target once, then allow one rider to pass. Repeat this action until all riders in your group have passed through the gate. The gate will remain open a maximum of 15 seconds for each rider to pass.

Pay at a Validator

card held to bus farebox
Farebox (Buses only)
  • Hold your card near the farebox TAP target, or
  • Insert bills and coins in the farebox cash port.
  • Wait for the “beep” sound and “GO” message to confirm fare payment.
card held to bus mobile validator
Mobile validator
  • Hold your card near the mobile validator TAP target.
  • Wait for the green screen to confirm fare payment.
card held to stand alone validator
Turnstile (Metro rail stations)
  • Hold your card near the TAP target located on the right side.
  • Wait for the green screen to confirm fare payment and enter.
card held to station turnstile
Standing validator (Metro rail stations)
  • Hold your card near the TAP target.
  • Wait for the “beep” sound and “GO” message to confirm fare payment.
card unlocking bike
Metro Bike Share station
  • Enroll in Metro Bike Share.
  • Press silver button on the dock and hold card to lighted panel.
  • Wait for 3 “beeps” to confirm bike has been unlocked.
  • Smart Metro Bikes can be unlocked by holding your TAP card to the screen on the bike’s handlebar.