MST fares

Current fare structure

MST's current fare structure will be in effect through April 1, 2011. Pay the appropriate fare at the farebox (or show a valid pass to the driver) when boarding.

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.

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."

Pass sales locations

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.

Updated fare structure

MST will be replacing its fareboxes and zone-based fare structure effective April 2, 2011. The new system will charge riders based on the length of the route rather than on the rider's length of travel, replacing the nine fare zones with four categories of route.

Cash Fares

Cash will still be accepted onboard buses, and exact fare will no longer be required; a fare credit will be issued in lieu of change. <simpletable sep=comma class="wikitable"> , Local Routes, Primary Routes, Regional Routes, Commuter Routes Regular, $1.00, $2.00, $3.00, $10.00 Discount, $0.50, $1.00, $1.50, $5.00 </simpletable > Transfers will no longer be available between MST routes.

Discount fares will still be available to the following riders:

• All riders (on Sundays and holidays only)
• Youth (46" tall to 18 years old)
• Seniors (age 65 or older)
• Individuals with disabilities
• Medicare cardholders
• Active-duty military

The MST Trolleys will remain fare-free.

GoPasses

Magnetic-strip GoPasses will replace all of MST's existing passes. All GoPasses (except the 1-Day Super GoPass) must be purchased in advance at MST Customer Service locations or community Pass Outlets. A 31- or 7-Day GoPass will not be activated until it is inserted into the farebox on its first use, at which point it will be imprinted with its expiration date. <simpletable sep=comma class="wikitable"> , 31-Day Super, 31-Day Basic, 7-Day Super, 1-Day Super, Summer Youth Regular, $150, $75, $40, $8, Discount, $75, $37, $20, $4, $38 </simpletable> 31- and 7-Day Super GoPasses will be valid on all MST routes.

31-Day Basic GoPasses will be valid on all MST local and primary routes, and count as a $2 fare credit ($1 discount) on MST regional and commuter routes.

1-Day Super GoPasses will be valid on all MST local, primary, and regional routes, and count as an $8 fare credit ($4 discount) on MST commuter routes. These passes will be available for purchase onboard the bus.

Summer Youth GoPasses will be available only to youth age 18 & under, and will be valid June 1 through August 31 of the year purchased. Like 1-Day Super GoPasses, they will be valid on all MST local, primary, and regional routes, and count as a $4 discount fare credit on MST commuter routes.

GoCard

Contactless, stored-value GoCards will be available as an alternative to carrying cash for MST fares. GoCards may be purchased and reloaded in $10 increments at MST Customer Service locations (not at community Pass Outlets, nor onboard buses), and offer a 10% bonus over standard cash payment (that is, $11 is loaded to the card for every $10 paid). Lost cards will carry a $5 replacement fee.

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.)