Published on February 05, 2025
Beginning March 1, riders eligible for the Regional Transit System (RTS) Fare-Free Transit Program must present an RTS identification card to ride at no cost. The transit program offers free bus fares for RTS passengers 65 and older and those 18 and younger.
RTS ID cards are available at no charge. Individuals can apply on-line for a digital ID card at www.go-rts.com. Physical ID cards can be obtained by visiting RTS administrative headquarters at 34 SE 13th Road in Gainesville.
The City of Gainesville Transportation Department announced the requirement last October to help reduce fraud and to address budget constraints due to reductions in federal, state and local funding.
Signage posted on buses is part of an educational grace period, through February, to help familiarize riders with the new requirement.
The city launched the Fare-Free Transit Program in 2021 after entering into an agreement with Alachua County to evenly split the program’s $230,000 annual cost. The agreement has been renewed each year since.
During the three fiscal years since the launch, RTS recorded more than 1.6 million trips by eligible riders of the program.