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Fares

The Rapid offers a number of different fare types and purchase options to best meet your needs when using the fixed-route system.

On July 1, 2021, the following changes will go into effect for the Wave card:

  1. All existing discounted partner fare programs will be standardized at a discounted rate of $1.25. This will simplify the programs available to our non-profits and post K-12 educational institutions, eliminate multiple discounts or donation programs, and create a more equitable standard for providing discounted fares.

  2. Wave cards will transition to daily and monthly fare capping. Monthly capping will now cover one calendar month and will reset on the first day of each new month. There will no longer be a 7-day fare cap.

  3. Wave Cards will no longer go into a negative balance. This will maintain equity among the Wave card categories, ease of use to our riders, ease customer service and operators of the confusing explanation of negative balance, allow for faster boarding times, fewer customer complaints, and shorter times at the customer service window. 

Wave hello to a better way to Ride!

Providing riders with a faster, easier and more convenient way to pay for your fare! Pay-as-you-go value makes travel on The Rapid buses easier than before.

 Purchase

Rapid Wave smart card

Wave Card Types & Fares

Fare or Cap
Increment 		1-Day 7-Day 31-Day
Adult$1.75$3.50$16.00$47.00
Youth $1.25$2.50$11.25$33.75
Reduced$0.85$2.25$10.50$30.00
Partner$1.25$2.50$11.25$33.75
ADA$0———
10-Ride*$13.50———

*10-Ride Wave cards do not feature fare capping or auto-load.

GO!Bus and PASS do not utilize The Wave. 


Points of Purchase

Online

Adult and 10-Ride Wave cards are available for purchase online at any time using credit cards only.

 Buy Now

Note: When purchasing a ticket or pass with a credit or debit card, the card must bear the purchaser's name, i.e., The Rapid cannot accept "gift cards" such as pre-paid VISA® cards if it does not have the purchaser's name on the card. We apologize for any inconvenience this might cause.

At The Rapid Central Station Information Center

Wave cards are sold at Rapid Central Station for a one-time fee of $3, load your money on-site or purchase locations listed below.

At Retail Locations

Wave cards are available to purchase at the following retail locations with cash, debit, or credit card. Payment standards may vary by outlet.

or at 60+ retail locations throughout the service area, including:

  • Walgreens
  • Speedway
  • Mobil
  • Marathon

Cash

Cash is accepted for bus fare. Riders using cash to pay their fare will not receive a transfer or a change card.

See GO!Bus or PASS for information on fares. You can purchase fares online at any time.

Transfers

Transfers were developed to help customers travel conveniently within our system on a single fare. With The Wave card, your transfer timeframe is 105 minutes and begins with your first tap. This means that you have 105 minutes to ride anywhere in the system, even on the same route!

Your first tap will charge a normal fare to your account. Subsequent taps within the 105-minute transfer timeframe will not charge your account.

Transfers are not available when paying a cash fare.

Reduced Fares

In order to qualify for reduced fare on our fixed-route system, one must be age 65 or older, or have a current qualifying disability. All applicants not in The Rapid database must complete and submit a reduced fare application or visit Rapid Central Station. Learn more >

Replacement & Refund Policy

The Rapid will not replace Wave cards, tickets, transfer cards or change cards that have been damaged due to misuse or altered in any way. Wave cards, tickets and fare are non-refundable and will not be replaced if lost or stolen. Any value loaded onto a Wave card is non-refundable.