GoTriangle bus fares are coming back July 1. What you need to know
GoTriangle is resuming charging bus fares on Monday, July 1.
It’s been four years since the bus system, as well as GoRaleigh, GoDurham and GoCary, stopped charging riders in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent the spread of the virus, enforce social distancing and ease financial burdens for community members.
And GoTriangle isn’t alone in resuming fares. GoRaleigh announced it will return to charging for trips on Aug. 1.
Here’s what you need to know.
Which bus systems will charge fares this summer?
GoTriangle and GoRaleigh announced they will resume fare requirements, GoTriangle on July 1 and GoRaleigh on Aug. 1.
To ease the transition, GoTriangle announced it will offer free rides during the month of July for riders if they download and register an account on the Umo Mobility app.
According to GoTriangle President and CEO Charles Lattuca, passengers will be able to buy digital passes on the app and scan it to get on buses. Riders can also plan trips and track buses on the app.
GoRaleigh also originally said it would begin charging fares on July 1, but an announcement on Tuesday pushed that back to allow riders to explore ticketing options to prepare for August.
Which bus systems will remain fare-free in the Triangle?
GoDurham will extend its pause through June 2025, allowing riders to continue to ride for free.
Chapel Hill Transit has been fare-free for two decades and will remain so. In a social media post on June 18, Chapel Hill Transit said individuals who ride the GoTriangle 420 bus that is driven by Chapel Hill Transit drivers should prepare to pay a fare on July 1.
GoCary will remain fare free through June 30, 2025, after the Cary Town Council approved its budget for the 2025 fiscal year on Thursday, according to a news release. GoCary Door to Door Tier 2 and Tier 3 will continue charging regular fares.
How expensive are the bus fares?
GoTriangle will charge $2.50 for rides and will start enforcing maximum dollar amounts that riders pay in a given period of time.
Here’s a break down of GoTriangle’s fare caps:
- A daily cap of $5
- A weekly cap of $20
- A monthly cap of $80
GoTriangle also announced that passes are available for low-income riders to continue to ride fare-free.
GoRaleigh trips will cost $1.25, according to the systems’ websites. It will also implement fare caps with the following prices:
- A daily cap of $2.50
- A weekly cap of $10
- A monthly cap of $40
People between the ages of 13 and 18 and over 65 can ride fare-free on GoTriangle and GoRaleigh if they enroll in one of the GoPass programs on Umo. Adults who qualify for Medicaid or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, or have a household income below $35,000, can also ride for free with a GoPass, according to GoTriangle and GoRaleigh.
Children younger than 12 ride for free with an adult and passengers with disabilities can qualify for discounted fare.
How do passengers pay the fares?
GoTriangle and GoRaleigh passengers can pay in cash, but they must have exact change.
They can now also buy digital tickets, or a GoPass, on the free Umo app. Physical GoPass Umo Cards are available for sale at the Pass Sales Office at the GoTriangle Regional Transit Center in Durham, according to GoTriangle.
When boarding the bus, the bus systems ask that passengers use the front door and scan their Umo QR code, tap their GoPass Umo Card on the Umo reader or put exact change in the cash box.
This story was originally published June 26, 2024 at 12:46 PM.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story included incorrect information on bus fares in Cary. Cary’s website says its fixed-route bus service will remain free through June 2025.
