MTD Developing Paperless Bus Pass Program

Need an MTD bus pass? There may soon be an app for that.

Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District leaders say a new paperless bus pass program will be convenient and secure for riders.

People will be able to use a phone app to purchase bus tickets or passes. They will then be able to show their phone ticket to the driver as they board. 

Karl Gnadt is the Managing Director of the MTD. He says the phone pass is secure, and that will cut down on rider-driver confrontations over whether a pass is valid.

“If all they have to look at is the screen on a mobile phone, then that’s much easier and far less opportunity of that kind of confrontation,” Gnadt said.

Gnadt stresses the MTD will never know individual rider data. “It all is absolutely 100-percent anonymous. We never get any rider personal information from the vendor the collects or origin and destination point,” he added.

Gnadt says riders can renew their passes online for added convenience.

The MTD hopes to have this system up and running before the end of the year.