September 3, 2021

Metro Transit is preparing to introduce a new, contactless option to its fare payment system – Umo. With Umo, riders will board and manage accounts with a mobile app, or board with Umo smart cards and manage accounts online. The Umo system will be made available for public use on all bus and MOBY paratransit vans on Monday, September 20th. ORBT fare collection will begin on Friday, October 1st using the Umo system.

“We’ve gotten requests from riders over the years for a better fare payment system, and we’re happy to deliver that with Umo,” said Metro CEO, Lauren Cencic. “This system has the potential to drastically improve the transit experience for our riders. Umo offers a more accessible, secure way to pay for a transit trip, and it provides a better access point for current and new riders.”

Riders will be able to manage and load money into online accounts or with the Umo app. They will board by scanning the Umo app or tapping the Umo smart card to the recently installed fare readers, which will deduct fares from a rider’s wallet.

“Metro currently offers a 30-day unlimited ride pass, which gives frequent riders a great benefit,” Cencic said. “Fare capping offers that same discount to riders, even if they don’t have the ability to pay for an expensive pass upfront.”

Through fare capping, the Umo system will recognize the amount a rider pays in a calendar month and “cap” payments when they reach the monthly ride cost – $55 for full-fare riders and $27.50 for half-fare riders. For the remainder of that month, funds would not be deducted when using the fare reader.

Metro will continue to sell paper fare tickets and passes, which can be purchased at Metro’s office, online, and through a variety of retail outlets. Fareboxes, which will remain on Metro buses and MOBY vehicles, will continue to take paper tickets, passes, and cash, and will continue to honor and dispense value cards for cash overpayment. To maintain the convenience of three-door boarding, riders will be able to access Umo readers at all ORBT doors.

ORBT prices will reflect Metro bus fares at $1.25 with 25-cent transfers. Metro fare prices will not change.