Tap and Go with the Tcard Smart Card
TCAT’s new Tcard Smart Card offers an easy, convenient, and secure method of payment as you ride across Tompkins County. Set up an account to get a smart card or add passes to an existing card online. By registering your Tcard, you add an extra layer of security if your card is lost or stolen.
Fast and Easy
Desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone access to your account allows you to manage your account wherever you are.
No Bus Pass? No Cash? No Problem.
Paying the bus fare just got easier with TCAT’s new mobile ticketing app. Download the free Tfare App from Google Play or the Apple Store, and make carrying a fare card or exact change a thing of the past. The Tfare Mobile App provides a convenient and secure way to easily pay for your trip right from your smart phone. Purchase additional passes or add value to your account anytime with a debit or credit card. When you are ready to board, activate your pass and use the farebox to scan the QR code generated on your phone screen.
Use your phone to purchase passes and pay the fare
- Visit Google Play or the Apple Store
- Search for “Tfare “ Ithaca
- Open the app and find helpful features including planning your trip and purchasing rides or passes.
- Your mobile pass will be on your phone. (*Internet access required to activate and use mobile pass.)
- Reload or add funds at your convenience.
When you are ready to ride, activate your Tfare Pass:
- Once purchased, you can activate your pass by selecting the green “Activate Now” button on your phone.
- Scan the QR code on your phone over the reader on the top lower right side of the farebox.
Tfare App & Smart Card FAQ
How do I pay the fare?
- Cash fare: Exact change only. Drivers are unable to make change. ($1.50 adult fare / 75¢ for seniors and persons with disabilities / Youth 17 & under ride free).
- Tcard Smart Card: TCAT’s durable, reusable, reloadable smart card you just tap and go. The Tcard Smart Card has an initial fee of $3.00.
- TCAT Pay: Mobile bus passes purchased and used through the Tfare app (available on the Apple App Store for iOS and the Google Play store).
What pass options are available?
Period Passes: Period passes are day-based passes good for unlimited rides during a period of consecutive days. Passes purchased are activated after the first use, and the fare box will validate the pass automatically. Frequent riders can enjoy bigger discounts by buying a weekly, monthly, or annual pass. Period passes are also available in 1-Day, 2-Day, and 5-Day increments. Please note that a “Day” is a Service Day, NOT a 24 hour period. A service day begins when the first bus leaves the garage in the morning (~4:00am) and ends when the last bus returns at night (~2:30am).
Rider Passes: Not a frequent rider? You can still purchase rides at a discounted rate. The 15 ride pass costs $20 ($1.33 per ride) and does not have an expiration date. One-ride and two-ride passes are also available and offer the convenience of not having to carry cash.
TCAT Pay – Pay as You Go (Only available through the Tfare mobile app): Load an amount through the Tfare app — unlimited reloading with a maximum of $500 online or in-person. Adult fare ($1.50) will be deducted each time you tap.
I still have rides on my old yellow Tcard. Can I transfer those passes to a new Tcard Smart Card?
You can transfer your balances from your current Tcard and receive an all new rechargeable smart card, with the same “Tcard” name but with a different design. You can also opt to have your passes transferred to a mobile wallet and use the Tfare app to pay your fare. If you are transferring balances onto the new smart card, you will not be required to pay the additional $3 card fee. Riders can transfer or buy a new smart card in person at TCAT’s offices, 737 Willow Ave., Ithaca, NY, 14850, from 8 a.m,. to 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. or by calling us at (607) 277-7433 (RIDE). The new smart card is durable and for long-term use.
How do I purchase a Tcard Smart Card?
Tcard Smart Card has an initial fee of $3.00 and can be purchased at in person at TCAT (737 WIllow Ave., Ithaca) or online at:
www.tcatbus.com/store (allow a minimum of 5-7 business days for delivery)
Where can I purchase a bus pass if I need it today?
- Visit the TCAT customer service desk at 737 Willow Ave., Ithaca, NY 14850. The office is open Monday – Friday from 8am-5pm.
- Use mobile ticketing on your smartphone. No physical card required! Download the Tfare app (available on the Apple App Store for iOS and the Google Play store).
- Buy a Tcard from one of our outlets around town. Beginning in September, TCAT outlets will transition to selling Tcard Lites – disposable paper passes.
How do I register a Tcard Smart Card?
- Go to: tcatbus.com/store
- Click the light blue GET A CARD button.
- Complete the NEW CUSTOMER information.
- On the next screen, click SIGN UP.
- Click REGISTER AN EXISTING CARD.
- Enter the Tcard Smart Card # and CVV (the 3 numbers on the back of the card), then click REGISTER CARD.
How do I use my Tcard Smart Card?
Tap your Tcard Smart Card on the fare box. Your fare will automatically be deducted and the card balance will be displayed on the screen. Each time you tap, the fare box will display your remaining balance.
A Tcard Smart Card may only be used by one person per boarding. Up to five cards may be registered to a single Tcard Smart Card account online, however, each person must possess their own Tcard Smart Card.
How do I reload my Tcard Smart Card?
- Go to: tcatbus.com/store and log in to your account.
- Click the MANAGE CARD button.
- Click the green ADD FARES TO CARD button.
- Choose either Period Passes or Rider Passes and select pass type.
- Click the green ADD PASSES button.
- Click on the shopping cart icon near the top of the page.
- Click the green GO TO CHECKOUT button.
- You will be forwarded to the J.P. Morgan Chase page to enter your credit card information.
- Click SUMBIT button.
Can I get reduced fares with Tcard Smart Card?
Yes, reduced fares are available for people aged 65 and older, students aged 6-17, Medicare card holders, and individuals with disabilities. Tcard Smart Card reduced fare cards require eligibility verification. Passengers using Half-fare Passes should call Jenn at (607) 277-9388 x420 to set up an account.
Period Passes are not eligible for half-fare. Reduced fare Tcard Smart Cards have an initial fee of $3.00.
Tcard Smart Card care tips
Do not cut, scratch, bend or puncture your card. This will damage your card, resulting in the need for a replacement. If your card is lost, stolen, or damaged, you will need to purchase a new card for a fee of $3.00.