FARES & PASSES
Passes may be obtained at the following locations:
Adult: $1.50
Cash exact change or you will get an RTS change card.
24 Hour pass: $3.00
All day passes can be purchased directly from the bus driver. Pay fare at first boarding – good for unlimited rides for 24 hours. Please have correct fare amount. They can also be purchased at the Rosa Parks RTS Downtown Station.
Medicaid and Medicare Recipients: $.75
Cash exact change or you will get an RTS change card.
(Valid Photo ID and Medicare/Medicaid Card required)
Veterans and Active Duty Military: $.75
Cash exact change or you will get an RTS change card.
(Valid Veteran/Military Photo ID required)
ADA Certified: Free
(ADA Photo ID required)
City College Students: $.75
(Valid Student Photo ID required)
BUS CARDS
RTS “18 and Under, 65 and Over” Free Fare Bus Card Program
Individuals 18 years of age and under, as well as those 65 and over, are eligible to ride the City of Gainesville’s Regional Transit System (RTS) fixed-routes for free if able to meet program qualifications. State issued photo ID required.
Both the Gainesville City Commission and Alachua County Commission approved an agreement to jointly fund this RTS program. (NOT INCLUDED in this program are Gator Aider transit – between various park-and-ride locations and Ben Hill Griffin Stadium during football season and other special events.)
NOTE: It is a crime to refuse to pay a fare or attempt to evade payment of fare. Violators may be prosecuted under 812.015 Florida Statutes.
INDIVIDUAL PASSES
Passes* may be obtained at the following locations:
- Bus Driver: All Day Passes and Cash Fare
- By Mail: Monthly Fare
- Rosa Parks RTS Downtown Station: All Passes
The Rosa Parks RTS Downtown Station is located at 700 SE 3rd Street.
Butler Plaza Transfer Station is located at 4231 SW 30th Avenue.
Open Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. No passes may be purchased after 3:45 pm.
Closed Saturday and Sunday.
Call (352) 334-2600 for pass information.
*Please note: MasterCard and Visa are accepted as payment at the Rosa Parks Transfer Station and Butler Plaza Transfer Station.
Mailing Address:
Rosa Parks RTS Downtown Station
RTS-Station 5
PO Box 490
Gainesville, FL 32627
Butler Plaza Transfer Station
4231 SW 30th Ave.
Gainesville, FL 32608
STUDENT PASSES
Student Semester Pass: $60
A valid Student ID is required at time of purchase for:
- Santa Fe College (online students only – not full-time students)
- City College
- University of Florida (online students only – not full-time students)
Passes may be obtained at the following locations:
- Bus Driver: All Day Pass & Cash Fare
- By Mail: Monthly Fare
- Rosa Parks RTS Downtown Station: and Butler Plaza Transfer Station : All Passes
- Download now:
Monthly Student Pass: $17.50
PLEASE NOTE: High school, middle and elementary school students are not required to have ID cards. Pass is valid only for month purchased. A new pass will need to be purchased on the 1st of the following month.
MONTHLY PASSES
Monthly Pass – Full Fare: $35
Passes are valid on a month-to-month basis on all RTS main routes. Bearer may use this pass without limitation on any number of trips. Note: Monthly pass is not valid on special service routes. Bearer of a monthly pass or student semester pass does not have to show his or her ID to board the bus.
PLEASE NOTE:
Please note: Pass is valid for 31 days after activation.
Monthly Pass – Full Fare: $35.00
Monthly Pass – Half Fare: $17.50
Passes are valid on a month-to-month basis on all RTS main routes. Bearer may use this pass without limitation on any number of trips. Note: Monthly pass is not valid on special service routes. Bearer of a monthly pass, or student semester pass, do not have to show his or her ID to board the bus.
A person with a valid Military/Veteran ID or a Medicaid or Medicare card, may also show their ID card for a reduced fare on fixed route service. Military/Veteran ID and/or Medicaid or Medicare card ID’s are required at the time of purchase to qualify for the monthly half-fare pass of $17.50.
PLEASE NOTE:
Monthly Passes are valid for 31 days after activation.
EMPLOYEE BUS PASS PROGRAM
Download brochure in PDF format
The City of Gainesville Regional Transit System (RTS) offers an employer program to help make a transition to riding public transit easier: the RTS Employee Bus Pass Program. This program provides a no-hassle way for employees to take public transit to and from work while protecting the environment and saving money. Please read below for information on this program.
RTS EMPLOYEE BUS PASS PROGRAM
The RTS Employee Bus Pass Program was created to mitigate traffic and parking problems at the University of Florida and Downtown and to encourage employees to use public transit as an alternative mode of transportation. The goal of this program is to provide unlimited access to the transit system for employees of contracted participants to diminish the cost per trip compared to regular bus fare.
RTS Employee Bus Pass Program Eligibility
Any employer with 100 employees or more is eligible to enter into an Employee Bus Pass Program contract with RTS.
How the RTS Employee Bus Pass Program Works
When an employer enters into a one-year contract with RTS, that employer purchases unlimited access bus passes for all employees for one year at the rate of $7.50 each. Any employee will be able to show an RTS bus driver his or her ID card and enjoy RTS fixed-route services for free, with the exception of special services such as Gator Aider, etc. An RTS employee bus pass sticker may be required on employee IDs, depending on the company’s identification card policy.
The RTS Employee Bus Pass Program allows employees pre-paid, unlimited access to RTS fixed-route services. With the RTS Employee Bus Pass Program, workers simply show their employee IDs and board the bus – it’s that simple. An annual transaction between the participating employer and RTS ensures unlimited employee transportation for a year.
The RTS Employee Bus Pass Program doesn’t require time from the employer’s personnel to administer the program since an employee ID is all that is needed once a contract is completed.
The Regional Transit System staff is ready to present the program to you and provide informational materials for you to distribute to your employees. For more information or to schedule a meeting, please call Kimberly Sweigard 352-393-7852
STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF & RETIREES
UF Students, Faculty & Staff
Designated UF students, faculty, staff & retirees enjoy pre-paid unlimited access to all RTS fixed-route services. No fee required. Affiliate cards not valid. Gator 1 ID mobile app (and cards*) required on City Routes only.
Note: Not valid on special services such as Gator Aider, etc.
* Physical cards will be issued by UF when necessary.
Santa Fe Students, Faculty & Staff
Designated Santa Fe students, faculty, staff & retirees enjoy pre-paid unlimited access to all RTS fixed-route services. No fee required. Affiliate cards not valid. Valid landscape format Santa Fe ID card required on City Routes only.
Note: Not valid on special services such as Gator Aider, etc.
CITY OF GAINESVILLE & GRU EMPLOYEES
All City General Government and GRU employees ride fixed-route service with no fee required by simply showing their employee photo ID badge. Now that all City employees have access, you no longer need to get an RTS employee bus pass sticker for your ID badge to ride the bus. Not valid on special services.
UF HEALTH
UF Health employees ride fixed-route service with no fee required by simply showing their employee Gator 1 photo ID badge.
ADA PARATRANSIT SERVICE
Part of our commitment to the community is making RTS rides available and accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. ADA certified individuals can ride any RTS fixed-route service for free – just show your valid ADA card. RTS also offers complementary door-to-door paratransit service in lift-equipped vehicles for those ADA paratransit certified riders who are unable to use the fixed-route service. These rides are offered by appointment at a cost of $3 per trip. Please place your service request the day before your trip. Call MV Transportation at (352) 375-2784 to set up your travel reservation.