MST fares
Pay the appropriate fare at the farebox (or show a valid pass to the driver) when boarding.
Contents
Current fare structure
Cash fares
<simpletable sep=comma class="wikitable"> , One-Way (per zone), Single Zone Day Pass, All Zone Super Day Pass Adult, $2.50"$" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 2.5., $6.00, $12.00 Discount, $1.25, $3.00, $6.00 </simpletable > Transfers cost an additional $0.25 ($0.10 discount).
Youth (46" tall to 18 years old), seniors (age 65 or older), individuals with disabilities, Medicare cardholders, and active-duty military are eligible for the Discount fares.
Free Service
For one-way, one-zone trips, riders boarding at stops on the CSUMB campus (including Schoonover Park and Frederick Park housing) pay no fare. Regular fare is required for the return trip, effectively making a round trip half-price.
The seasonal MST Trolleys are free to all riders.
Prepaid fares
<simpletable sep=comma class="wikitable"> , 20-ride ticket book, Single Zone Fast Pass, All Zone Super Fast Pass Adult, $50, $75, $150 Discount, $25, $37, $75 </simpletable> Ticket books are sold at face value (that is, each ticket is valid for a fare credit of $2.50, not for "one ride") and do not expire. Fast Passes are good for one calendar month and are cost-effective for riders taking more than 15 round trips per month. Discount monthly passes are sold as "Gold Passes" rather than "Fast Passes."
Fare zones
The MST system is divided into nine fare zones as shown below . Grey diamond zones are considered to be within the square zones that they overlap. For example, passengers in Castroville pay a single zone fare to Watsonville, Salinas, or Monterey.
Not shown, south of the South County zone: Fort Hunter Liggett, San Miguel, and Paso Robles.
Proposed fare structure
MST has announced plans to replace the current zone-based fare structure effective March 5, 2011. The new system would charge riders based on the length of the route rather than based on the rider's length of travel, replacing the nine fare zones with four categories of route
<simpletable sep=comma class="wikitable"> , Local Routes, Primary Routes, Regional Routes, 1-day Pass, Commuter Routes Adult, $1.00, $2.00, $3.00, $8.00, $10.00 Discount, $0.50, $1.00, $1.50, $4.00, $5.00 </simpletable > Transfers will no longer be available between MST routes.
1-day passes will be valid on all MST non-commuter routes and all VTA local bus/light rail routes. A surcharge may be paid to travel on an MST commuter route.
Youth (46" tall to 18 years old), seniors (age 65 or older), individuals with disabilities, Medicare cardholders, and active-duty military will still be eligible for the Discount fares. Additionally, Discount fares will be extended to all riders on Sundays and holidays.
The MST Trolleys and CSUMB campus will remain fare-free.
Prepaid fares
<simpletable sep=comma class="wikitable"> , 7-day Superpass, 31-day Basic pass, 31-day Superpass, Summer Youth Pass Adult, $40, $75, $150, Discount, $20, $37, $75, $38 </simpletable> All passes will be activated at the time of first use instead of being based on calendar months.
Basic passes will be valid on all MST local and primary routes. A surcharge may be paid to travel on an MST regional or commuter route.
Superpasses will be valid on all MST routes and all VTA local bus/light rail routes.
Summer Youth Passes are available only to youth age 18 & under, and will be valid June 1 through August 31 each summer with all privileges of a Superpass.
Additionally, reloadable stored-value Smart Cards will replace the current ticket books and offer a 10% savings over cash fares: Smart Cards will be loaded with $11 for every $10 paid.
Inter-agency fare arrangements
Santa Cruz METRO
- METRO transfers are accepted by MST as a one-way, one-zone fare payment; METRO Day Passes are valid for unlimited travel within the North County/Watsonville zone. Transfers and Day Passes are not valid as credit towards the purchase of MST passes.
- MST transfers and Day Passes are accepted by METRO as a one-way fare payment as far as METRO Center. Transfers and Day Passes are valid as credit towards purchase of METRO Day Passes.
- Neither MST nor METRO accept each other's Monthly Passes.
- Both MST and METRO honor each other's Discount fare Courtesy Cards.
Santa Clara VTA
- MST All-Zone daily/monthly passes are accepted by VTA for unlimited travel on local bus/light rail routes, and as credit towards a daily pass or express fare.
- VTA Express daily/monthly/Eco passes are accepted by MST for unlimited travel on all routes.
- VTA Local daily/monthly passes and Summer Blast Pass are accepted by MST as a one-way, one-zone fare payment.
Caltrain
- Caltrain monthly passes of three or more zones are accepted by MST for unlimited travel on all routes. (Caltrain does not accept MST passes.)
