TCAT Fares
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, TCAT is fare free through Sat., Sept. 5 for all riders, so that drivers and riders can avoid contact as the farebox is located next to the drivers’ area. Driver shields are expected to be installed in buses by Sun., Sept. 6, which will enable TCAT to begin collecting fares again and priced as follows:
An adult single ride fare is $1.50 for boarding anywhere in Tompkins County. Half fare for seniors 60 and older, youth 17 and under, and persons with disabilities will be 75 cents. Children 5-years and under ride free.
The more per‑day and per‑ride passes you buy, the more you save.
Fare Structure
Cash Fare, Single Ride You pay
Fare Type
Adult (ages 18-59)………………………………………. $1.50
Youth (ages 6-17) ………………………………………. 75 cents
Child (5 and under)………………………………………..Free
Half-fare (seniors age 60+)………………………………75 cents
Half-fare Medicare / persons w/ disability ……………..75 cents
If you choose to use, please use exact change only.
Drivers are unable to make change so you must have the exact fare. Dollar bills and coins are accepted. No pennies please.
Tcard Deals
The more rides or consecutive days of riding you purchase on your Tcard at one time, the more you save on your per-ride or per-day cost.
If you Purchase: You Pay:
Fare Type
1-14 adult rides…………………………………….. $1.50 / ride
15+ adult rides……………………………………… $1.33 / ride
1-6 consecutive days……………………………….. $3.00 / day
7-30 consecutive days………………………………. $2.50 /day
31-364 consecutive days…………………………… $1.50 /day
365+ consecutive days………………………………. $1.25 /day
Ride Card Options
Each ride is a one-way trip. A round-trip would cost two rides. Rides do not expire.
Fare Type
15 Ride card…………………………………………….. $20
Half-fare 15 Ride card…………………………………. $10
Seniors (age 60+)/ persons w/ disability / Medicare
Youth 15 Ride card……………………………………….$10
Youth (age 6-17)
Day Pass Options
By-the-Day passes are good for unlimited rides on consecutive days beginning the first day the pass is used.
Fare Type
1 Day pass………………………………………………. $3
2 Day pass………………………………………………. $6
5 Day pass………………………………………………. $15
Weekly pass…………………………………………….. $17.50
Monthly pass…………………………………………….. $45
Annual pass……………………………… …………….. $450
Youth Passes
The Youth Semester Pass is good for unlimited rides each semester on any TCAT bus
Fare Type
Youth Fall Semester
August 15 – January 31……………………………. $30
Youth Spring Semester
February 1 – June 30…………………………………… $30
Youth Summer Fun
June 27 – September 6………………………………… $50
Passes for College Students
Use your student ID at the farebox. Enjoy special pricing and added convenience by having bus privileges loaded right onto your student ID card. It’s important to note that it may take 2-3 days for your new bus pass to work on the bus. In the meantime, please carry an alternate fare.
College Student Rates
Cornell University
All registered Cornell students receive unlimited rides on all TCAT buses after 6 p.m. weekdays, and anytime Saturday and Sunday. Students pay no fare when using their CU ID card at the fare box. Please note: Students must remain registered in order for their privileges to remain active. The CU photo ID card is the fare medium and must be presented at the fare box-and read electronically-in order to ride at no cost.
OmniRide
The OmniRide student bus pass allows unlimited access to all TCAT buses in Tompkins County. Ride privileges are accessed using the CU ID card at the bus farebox.
The OmniRide pass is $100 per semester (2020-21 academic year); the price pro-rates monthly and the current rate will display at the time of purchase. Passes are valid August 17, 2020-December 31, 2020 (Fall) and January 1, 2021-August 31, 2021 (Spring).
https://fcs.cornell.edu/departments/transportation-delivery-services/parking/getting-around/bus-services/student-omniride-bus-pass
Getting Started:
- New-to-Cornell students matriculating in a degree program for the first time receive automatic, no-fee OmniRide bus pass privileges valid within their first academic year. This program is offered as an introduction to the local public transit service, and an inducement to leave the vehicle home.
- All other students enrolled in a degree program receive free, unlimited rides on all TCAT buses after 6 p.m. weekdays, and anytime Saturday and Sunday and can purchase a discounted OmniRide student bus pass for unlimited, anytime access to all TCAT buses.
- Student spouse/partners with a CU ID card can purchase the OmniRide student bus pass at 116 Maple Avenue. The base card privilege is unlimited rides on TCAT night routes 90, 92, and 93.
Requirements:
- Bus access using the CU ID card, including night/weekend and OmniRide, is paid for by Cornell University and is non-transferable.
- To be considered eligible for the no-fee OmniRide privilege, students must not have registered for a degree program at Cornell University in the past.
- For example, a student who attended as an undergraduate and is now entering a graduate or professional program would not be considered new-to-Cornell, and would not qualify for free OmniRide privileges.
- New-to-Cornell ride privileges are valid from Fall registration to August 31 of the following year for Fall entrants; January registration to December 31 of the same year for Spring entrants.
- It can take up to two business days to activate the CU ID for use at the farebox depending on the day/time of purchase.
- The CU photo ID card is the fare medium and must be presented at the fare box—and read electronically—in order to access ride privileges.
- If the CU ID card is rejected, the student must pay the cash fare (current fare: $1.50).
- Students must remain registered to retain their ride privileges.
- There are no refunds issued after November 1 (Fall passes) March 31 (Spring passes). Refunds are minus a fee of $40.00.
Cornell employees also have TCAT privileges.
https://fcs.cornell.edu/content/expanded-tcat-access-faculty-and-staff
TC3
Fare Type
TC3 Student……………………………….. $90 (for fall 2020)
Semester Pass (fall or spring)
TC3 Student………………………………….$55
Semester Pass (summer)
Ithaca College
Fare Type
IC Student 15-ride pass ………………………………$15
IC Student Monthly Pass …………………………….. $30
IC Student Semester Pass (fall or spring)…………. $90 (for fall 2020)
IC Student Semester Pass (summer)……………….. $45
All IC employees are eligible for free TCAT service.
For more information, click:
http://www.ithaca.edu/hr/benefits/otherbens/?item=623
Transfers
If more than one bus route is needed to get you to your destination, transfer slips are available at no additional cost. You should request a transfer from the Bus Operator when you pay the fare or use a transfer slip. Riders are allowed up to two transfers to complete their trip. Transfers are good for a continuous one way trip on the day of issue and will only be honored on the next available bus. They will not be accepted on any trip that will return the passenger to the area in which the transfer was originally issued, nor to re-board the same route.
Day or semester pass holders do not need a transfer slip. Simply swipe your card again.
Youth Passes
High school students with valid student ID and youth ages 6 to 17 are eligible.
Home-schooled students over 17 years of age should contact TCAT customer service at 277-7433. The Youth Semester Pass is good for unlimited rides each semester on any TCAT bus.
Children
Children five years old and under ride free and must be accompanied by a responsible adult (up to three children per adult).
TCAT Military Personnel Fare Policy
Active Duty Military and Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) students – demonstrating military service either by being dressed in official U.S.-issued military formal or informal uniform and/or with a current military ID – ride free.
Half-fare for Senior Citizens, Medicare cardholders and Persons w/ Disabilities
Persons 60 years old or older, medicare cardholders, persons with a disability and those currently receiving SSI, SSD, or disabled veterans benefits are eligible to pay half-fare on the TCAT bus. (This does not apply to Gadabout or ADA paratransit services.) The bus operator may ask for proof of eligibility. Acceptable forms of proof of eligibility are your Medicare card, Senior Citizen’s Discount Card, drivers’ license or your TCAT half-fare identification card (purple card). Click Here for more information.
If you have a disability that prevents you from using the TCAT bus, then you may be eligible for complementary paratransit, a specialized, door-to-door transport service for people who are not able to ride the fixed-route transit system because of a disability. Click here for more information.
TCAT effective Aug. 25, 2019, eliminated its two-zone fare structure with geography no longer a factor in the cost of riding a TCAT bus.