MST fares

MST fares are based on route length, with longer routes charging higher fares even if you are only riding part of the way. <simpletable sep=comma class="wikitable"> , Local Routes, Primary Routes*, Regional Routes, Commuter Routes Regular, $1.50, $2.50, $3.50, $12.00 Discount, $0.75, $1.25, $1.75, $6.00 </simpletable > *Lines 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, and 49 are free on weekends and holidays. Senior/veteran shuttles (lines 61, 91, 92, 93, 94, and 95) have a reduced discount fare of $0.75 instead of $1.25.

Discount fares are available for:

• Youth (18 years and under)
• Seniors (65 years and older)
• Individuals with disabilities
• Medicare cardholders
• Veterans and their spouses/caregivers

Proof of age, an MST (or other transit system) Courtesy Card, or Medicare card is required upon boarding. Courtesy Cards are available at no charge to seniors and those with disabilities, but require an application processed at an MST customer service location.

MST does not issue transfers between its own routes, except for Hartnell College students boarding with ID at the Main or Alisal campuses.

Paying with cash

Insert cash into the farebox. MST fareboxes do not give change, but instead issue a "fare credit" card for use on future trips. To use the card, insert it into the slot on the top-left of the farebox, with the front of the card facing you. An updated balance will be printed on the card each time.

GoCards

GoCards are reloadable, "stored-value" cards to use instead of cash. They can be purchased and reloaded at MST customer service centers, and purchased (but not reloaded) at mst.org. Cards must be (re)loaded in $10 increments and come with a 10% bonus (that is, for every $10 you pay, your card is loaded with $11). They do not expire but are non-refundable.

To use a GoCard, tap it on the farebox just below the screen.

GoPasses

GoPasses are MST's daily, weekly, monthly passes. Day Passes are purchased on board buses and expire at 11:59 PM. All other passes must be purchased in advance from pass outlets, and expire 7 or 31 days from their first use. (Note that Costco locations require membership and only carry the 31-Day Basic GoPass, but sell it for $69.99 instead of $95.)

The first time you use a GoPass, insert it into the slot on the top-left of the farebox, with the front of the pass facing you. This activates the pass and prints the expiration date and time on the back. On future trips, you can either insert the pass again or swipe it through the slot on the top-right of the farebox.

<simpletable sep=comma class="wikitable"> , Regular, Discount, Route Upcharge 31-Day Super, $190, $95, -- 31-Day Basic, $95, $47, Regional: $1 ($0.50 discount)
Commuter: $9.50 ($4.75 discount) 7-Day Super, $50, $25, -- Day Pass, $10, $5, Commuter: $2 ($1 discount) Summer Youth, --, $38, -- </simpletable>

Summer Youth passes are available only to youth age 18 and under, and are valid for one summer, June 1 through August 31.

Group discounts are available for orders of at least five passes.

Military passes are available to active duty service members, DOD employees and NAF employees who commute to the Presidio of Monterey, Naval Postgraduate School, or Fort Hunter Liggett.

Inter-agency fare arrangements

Santa Cruz METRO

• MST and METRO both issue free transfers upon request for riders who are connecting at Watsonville Transit Center or Santa Cruz METRO Center.
• Ask the driver for a transfer when you board the first bus. Transfers are not issued when getting off.
• MST-to-METRO transfers are valid for one ride on any METRO line except the Highway 17 Express.
• METRO-to-MST transfers are valid for one ride on MST lines 27, 28, 29, or 78.
• Neither MST nor METRO honor each other's passes or stored-value cards.

Santa Clara VTA

• MST 7- and 31-Day Super GoPasses (including Military passes) are accepted by VTA for fare credit on light rail and local buses. $2 surcharge is required for express routes.
• VTA Express daily/Eco passes are accepted by MST for unlimited travel on all routes.
• VTA Local daily/monthly passes and the Youth Summer Blast Pass are accepted by MST for a $2.50 fare credit. MST does not accept the Local Eco pass.
• MST does not accept the Clipper card.

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