Jun 1, 2026
The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) today announces the launching of Account Based Ticketing (ABT), Fare Capping and Smartcards as payment methods that ensures registered customers never pay more than the cost of a daily, weekly or monthly pass—even if they don’t buy one upfront.
ABT is a ticketless system linked to an account—not a physical pass. Riders simply tap their GCRTA Smartcard or scan their phone using the Transit with EZfare or EZfare app, and trips are tracked automatically to ensure they receive the lowest fare.
With Fare Capping, riders never pay more than the cost of a daily, weekly, or monthly pass, even when paying per ride. For example, once fares reach $5 for the day for fixed route bus and rail, the remaining rides are free.
A Smartcard is a physical card that can be purchased & reloaded with funds (cash, debit, or credit card). It's designed to make paying for rides easy & efficient. Cards can be linked to a Transit App with EZfare or EZFare account for easier balance management & trip tracking automatically to apply the lowest fare.
“I'm grateful for the hard work of the management and staff of GCRTA to make ABT and fare capping a reality,” said GCRTA Board Trustee Mr. Jeffrey Weston Sleasman. “Fare capping will provide the entire community with the peace of mind that all riders will receive the best possible price, regardless of their ability to pay in advance. And with the high adoption we're hoping for, this is certainly a win for our operations team and customers alike.”
The new fare capping program will work automatically for riders using their smartcard or mobile app. Once a rider reaches trips paid for via the same payment method, all further rides that month are free. Fare capping benefits work with all types of fare: adults, seniors and youth.
Riders can tap a smartphone or smart card each time they board, the system tracks trips and caps fares daily and monthly at the cost of an unlimited pass.
“We’re making life more affordable for people who rely on transit,” said Joshua Miranda, GCRTA Director of Management Information Services. “No more deciding whether you can afford a monthly pass upfront and no more overpaying if you don’t ride enough to make a pass worth it.”
To participate, under the plan, customers need to create a GCRTA account, which would keep track of the number of rides and handle payments. For details on the fare-capping program and how to create your GCRTA account go to https://www.riderta.com/fares/farecapping.