Customer Service: FAQs

• Has RTA eliminated the All-Day Family Pass? If so, what are my options?
• I heard that customers now have to pay a separate fare on each bus or train. Is this true?
• I have a RTA Senior ID Card and I only pay 75 cents to ride. The $4.00 All-Day Pass is expensive for me. What can I do?
• Are each of the All-Day Passes available for purchase on Loop and Community Circulator buses?
• I don’t ride often, and when I do, it is normally one-way only. What should I do?
• Can two or more riders use the same farecard per trip?
• I ride two local buses daily to get to work and also two local buses to get home from work. What other options do I have besides the All-Day Pass? I often work less than five days per week.
• Can I use a Bus/Rapid farecard or Pass to ride any bus or train?
• I’m considering the 7-Day Flex Pass. How does it work?
• My Pass or farecard stopped working, and I haven't used it up! What can I do?
• Can you explain how riders can transfer to RTA if they are transferring from another transit agency?
• When I leave work, I ride a bus that crosses the county line. What should I do?
• I ride RTA several times every day, often every day of the week. What type of Pass or farecard offers the most benefits and savings?
• I understand that RTA policies permit uniformed police officers to ride free. Does this same policy apply to uniformed military personnel who are on duty or traveling to or from their duty stations? Who else is permitted free ride privileges on RTA service?

Q Has RTA eliminated the All-Day Family Pass? If so, what are my options?

In an effort to simplify the current fare structure, RTA introduced the Children's Day Pass in November 1, 2004. The All-Day Family Pass was discontinued at that time.

The Children's Day Pass is available for purchase on all RTA buses, trains and fareboxes.

When one adult, age 18 years or older pays full fare in cash or with RTA fare media, up to three children younger than age 6 ride for free, and up to three children, age 6-12, pay $1.75 each for unlimited travel, when accompanied by an adult.

RTA believes the Children's Day Pass is fair, simple, affordable, convenient and meets your needs.

Q I heard that customers now have to pay a separate fare on each bus or train. Is this true?

Transfer Privileges are included in all RTA fare media: the All-Day Pass, 7-Day Flex Pass or Monthly Pass, and 5-trip farecards. RTA riders paying cash no longer receive transfers and should consider purchasing farecards or passes. Individual All-Day Passes are valid for unlimited rides for one passenger on all routes and services until the expiration time printed on the pass. All-Day Passes purchased until 9:30p.m. are valid until 3 a.m. the next day. All-Day passes purchased after 9:30 p.m. are valid until 3 a.m. the second day after issuance.

Q I have a RTA Senior ID Card and I only pay 75 cents to ride. The $4.00 All-Day Pass is expensive for me. What can I do?

Seniors and disabled riders with a RTA-issued ID Card can purchase an All-Day Senior/Disabled Pass for $1.75.

Passes can be purchased right on the bus or train or at an RTA farebox. All-Day Senior/Disabled Passes are valid for unlimited rides for one passenger on all routes and services until the expiration time printed on the pass. You can also purchase Senior/Disabled farecards. Five-ride farecards cost $3.75. Your RTA-issued ID Card must be shown to operators before using an All-Day Senior/Disabled Pass or farecard.

Q Are each of the All-Day Passes available for purchase on Loop and Community Circulator buses?

Yes! The $4.00 Individual All Day Pass and $1.75 Senior/Disabled/Child All-Day Passes are available on all RTA vehicles except the downtown trolleys, which are currently free and don't issue any fare media.

Q I don’t ride often, and when I do, it is normally one-way only. What should I do?

All one-way riders who transfer can avoid extra charges by using RTA's 5-trip farecards, which have built-in 2-1/2 hour transfer privileges. All one-way riders who transfer should select whichever type of farecard best fits your needs: Bus/Rapid, Park-N-Ride, Loop/Circulator, or Senior/Disabled with RTA ID. Farecards can be purchased online, at the RTA Customer Service Center, Tower City, or from 150+ stores located throughout Greater Cleveland.

Q Can two or more riders use the same farecard per trip?

No. When a farecard is inserted into a farebox, the expiration date and time are printed on the farecard. This enables one rider to make unlimited transfers for 2-1/2 hours from the first time the card is inserted into the farebox.

Q I ride two local buses daily to get to work and also two local buses to get home from work. What other options do I have besides the All-Day Pass? I often work less than five days per week.

You can buy 5-trip Bus/Rapid farecards for $8.75 each. Instead of receiving a separate transfer, the 5-trip Farecard will print the expiration date and time when you use it for the first time. Passengers paying fares with farecards are able to use their farecards as a transfer for 2-1/2 hours after first use.

Q Can I use a Bus/Rapid farecard or Pass to ride any bus or train?

The Bus/Rapid farecard and Bus/Rapid Passes are valid on all RTA bus and rail services with no additional charge except on Park-N-Ride bus service. An additional 25 cents is required for Park-N-Ride service.

Q I’m considering the 7-Day Flex Pass. How does it work?

The 7-Day Flex Passes offer great convenience because they are not limited to one calendar week, Monday through Sunday. Instead, the Flex Passes is activated for the 7-day period the first time it is inserted into the farebox. So, if you begin using the 7-Day Flex pass on Wednesday, it is good through the following Tuesday.

Q My pass or farecard stopped working, and I haven't used it up! What can I do?

1. Monthly Passes will be honored for the remainder of the month, just show it to your operator.
2. The 7-Day Flex Pass will be honored for the remainder of its effective period, based upon the expiration date printed on the back, just show it to your operator.
3. A 7-Day Flex Pass without an expiration date will be punched and the card holder will receive an All-Day Pass. Stop by the RTA Customer Service Center at Tower City for card evaluation/replacement, or mail it to RTA (in an envelope provided by your operator or yourself) to:

   RTA
   PO Box 603607
   Cleveland, OH 44103

   and please be sure to include the non-working card and your exact return address.
4. For 5-trip farecards with more than one trip remaining, the card will be punched and the operator will issue an All-Day Pass. Stop by the RTA Customer Service Center at Tower City for card evaluation/replacement, or mail it to RTA (in an envelope provided by your operator or yourself) to:

   RTA
   PO Box 603607
   Cleveland, OH 44103

   and please be sure to include the non-working card and your exact return address.
5. For 5-trip farecards with one trip remaining, the operator will issue a special farecard enabling you to complete the current trip, and the expired farecard will be inserted into the farebox.

Q Can you explain how riders can transfer to RTA if they are transferring from another transit agency?

Effective July 1, 2006, as adopted by the GCRTA Board of Trustees, the following interagency transfer rules are in effect:

• Passengers presenting a valid transfer from Akron Metro RTA, Laketran, Lorain County Transit, Medina County Transit, PARTA, or Brunswick Transit are entitled to one free boarding on any connecting RTA service. Transfers will be collected by the Operator or Station Attendant and deposited in the bill slot of the farebox. Operators will not issue any additional documents to the passenger, including courtesy transfers.
• Passengers presenting interagency transfers are no longer entitled to receive an RTA individual or senior/disabled day pass at a reduced price. Passengers requesting a day pass must insert the full $4.00 ($1.75 Senior/Disabled/Child) into the farebox to receive a day pass.

Q When I leave work, I ride a bus that crosses the county line. What should I do?

For routes that extend out-of-county for more than one mile, the cash fare is $3.00. There is no additional charge for senior/disabled riders with a valid RTA ID card. Persons using a Bus or Rapid farecard will pay an additional $1.25. Persons using a Park- N-Ride farecard will pay an additional $1.00. Customers boarding a route that is considered out-of-county service, route #55F (Avon Lake) or #451 (Brunswick), should pay their full fare when boarding and receive a proof of $3.00 payment.

Q I ride RTA several times every day, often every day of the week. What type of pass or farecard offers the most benefits and savings?

Monthly Passes offer great savings and convenience for RTA customers. Bus/Rapid Monthly Passes sell for $63.00 and the Monthly Park-N-Ride Passes sell for $70.00. The passes are available at the RTA Customer Service Center and many of RTA outlets throughout Cuyahoga County, or can be purchased online.

Q I understand that RTA policies permit uniformed police officers to ride free. Does this same policy apply to uniformed military personnel who are on duty or traveling to or from their duty stations? Who else is permitted free ride privileges on RTA service?

The following individuals are permitted to ride free on all RTA bus, rail, and circulator service:

• Municipal Police Officers and State Highway Patrol Officers in official uniform. Police officers who are not in uniform, firefighting officers, and other law enforcement officers are not entitled to free ride privileges and must pay the appropriate fare.
• ADA Paratransit cardholders. All Passengers presenting their ADA Paratransit card may ride without payment of fare. The free ride sticker is no longer required.
• Personal Care Assistants. A personal care assistant, accompanying an ADA Paratransit passenger, may ride free when the PCA (personal care assistant) box is checked “YES” on the ADA Paratransit cardholder's ADA card.
• Seniors with Free Ride sticker. Seniors presenting a Senior/Disabled Discount card with the “free ride” sticker may ride without payment of fare. All others presenting a Senior/Disabled Discount Card must pay the appropriate fare.

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