How Your Go CT Card Calculates The Lowest Fare

Picking the Right Payment Option for Your Commute

For customers who ride at least three (3) consecutive days per week, the Go CT card is a better value than using a 10-ride ticket.

The 10-ride ticket offers customers a flat 10% discount (buy 9 rides, get 1 free). But thanks to fare capping, a customer using a Go CT card who commutes five (5) days per week will receive a 20% discount (pay for 8 rides, get 2 rides free). The Go CT card is a better value for three (3) and four (4) day per week commuters too. Some examples, using local fares, below.

If you need assistance in determining the best way to pay for your travel, call the Go CT help desk at 877-255-7433.

Go CT card weekly savings 

Local Commuter Riding 5 Days per Week (example)

Payment Method MON TUES WED THU FRI Total Paid Savings
cash $3.50 $3.50 $3.50 $3.50 $3.50 $17.50 --
10-ride ticket $3.15 $3.15 $3.15 $3.15 $3.15 $15.75 10% off
Go CT card $3.50 $3.50 $1.75 $3.50 $1.75 $14.00 20% off

Local Commuter Riding 4 Days per Week (example)

Payment Method MON TUES WED THU FRI Total Paid Savings
cash $3.50 $3.50 $3.50 $3.50 -- $14.00 --
10-ride ticket $3.15 $3.15 $3.15 $3.15 -- $12.60 10% off
Go CT card $3.50 $3.50 $1.75 $3.50 -- $12.25 12.5% off

Local Commuter Riding 3 Days per Week (example)

Payment Method MON TUES WED THU FRI Total Paid Savings
cash $3.50 $3.50 $3.50 -- -- $10.50 --
10-ride ticket $3.15 $3.15 $3.15 -- -- $12.60 10% off
Go CT card $3.50 $3.50 $1.75 -- -- $8.75 16.7% off

About Fare Capping

With the Go CT Card system, customers will now be able to take advantage of fare capping. Fare capping is a pay-as-you-go system that guarantees you will not pay more than the lowest authorized fare for any period of travel, without having to pay the full cost of a pass in advance.

If you ride enough in any given time period to have earned a discount, your fare will be capped at that level. If you ride less, you pay for what you rode.

Fare capping provides customers with the flexibility of paying daily with cash with the discounts of purchasing a longer term pass, without having to make the upfront payment for a pass, and avoids the risk that some of the pre-purchased pass value will go unused.

Customers can use the Go CT Card to ride any bus in the CTtransit and CTfastrak systems. Once you load money into the account by depositing a minimum of $10, simply tap your card on the fare reader. You can now ride for 2 hours without any additional charge.

At the end of the day, the value of all the rides taken will be calculated and deducted from your account. If any of the existing fare discounts apply, the amount deducted from your account will be limited to the cap, not the actual value of rides that you took.

With fare capping a rider on a local bus can now make as many trips as they want, but will not be charged more than*:

  • $3.50 per day OR
  • $8.75 for any consecutive 3-day period (vs. $10.50) OR
  • $14 for any consecutive 5-day period (vs. $17.50) OR
  • $19.25 for any consecutive 7-day period (vs. $24.50) OR
  • $63 for any consecutive 31-day period (vs. $108.50)

For passengers who ride CTtransit Express multi-zone buses, the Go CT Card introduces a new set of discounts based on daily 3, 5, and 7 day fare caps, similar to those available for local bus riders. These discounts are only available through use of the Go CT Card.

In addition, users of the Go CT Card can also receive the benefit of a 31-day pass discount without advance purchase.

Connecticut Receives $38.9 Million Grant from Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to Upgrade CT fastrak to All-Electric Fleet

Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto (second from the left), Governor Ned Lamont (center), and the Federal Transit Administration’s Peter Butler (farthest right) present the milestone award grant.

CT transit is excited to share that Governor Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) recently announced a $38.9 million Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant to help convert our CT fastrak to an all-electric bus fleet.

“This significant investment showcases our commitment to sustainable transportation and underscores our dedication to fostering skilled professionals for the future,” said Thomas E. Stringer Jr., General Manager. We look forward to this initiative’s positive impact on our community, environment, and local economy. Thank you to the FTA and the CTDOT for their continued support.”

L to R: Peter Butler, FTA Region 1 Administrator, and Thomas E. Stringer Jr, CT transit General Manager.

This significant grant, awarded through the FTA's Low or No Emission Grant Program, will facilitate the purchase or lease of zero-emission transit buses and the necessary facility upgrades.

CT transit will use these funds to acquire 46 battery-electric buses and install 29 chargers for the fastrak bus rapid transit service. The grant will also cover the cost of installing 25 depot chargers at the Hartford facility, four on-route chargers at the CT fastrak New Britain Station, and the required electrical infrastructure. This initiative is backed by over $17 million in matching state funds and $30 million from federal formula funds.

This milestone represents a monumental leap towards Governor Lamont's objective of transitioning the entire statewide public transportation bus fleet from diesel to zero-emission models by 2035. It's a testament to our collective commitment and the potential for a greener future.

Governor Lamont.

“The new battery-electric buses and chargers will help us meet the growing demand for reliable, efficient, and environmentally friendly transit options, and will greatly benefit the thousands of residents and commuters who rely on CT fastrak services every day,” said Governor Lamont. “Thank you to the Biden-Harris administration for continuing to invest in green technology that will modernize Connecticut’s public transit system and spur new economic opportunities across the state.”

Around $5.6 billion in funding has been allocated through President Joe Biden’s recently enacted Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support the replacement of thousands of public transit vehicles nationwide.

 

Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto addresses the media.

“Investing in electric buses for the CT fastrak fleet is a forward-thinking move that highlights Connecticut’s dedication to sustainability and innovation,” said Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Garrett Eucalitto.

CT fastrak was recently recognized as the best bus rapid transit system in the United States by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy.

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