How To Pay Your Fare

When riding UTA, payment of fare is required before boarding. You have a variety of ways to pay your fare:

Cash
Ticket vending machine (TVM)
Paper transit pass
Electronic fare card (a FAREPAY Card* or a pass from your school or employer)
The Transit app

However, not all modes use all methods of payment.

Learn how to pay your fare when you’re traveling on bus (including UVX, Express Bus, and Ski Bus), TRAX, and FrontRunner.

*UTA's FAREPAY Card offers fare capping to ensure you always get the best rate. If you qualify for and use a Reduced Fare FAREPAY Card, you will get fare capping, plus an additional discount.

Paying Your Fare on Bus

Local bus charges the regular fare of $2.50. Reduced fare is $1.25.

UTA buses accept cash, electronic fare cards, paper passes, and Transit app fare.

If you are paying cash, have exact change — drivers cannot make change. Enter through the door at the front of the bus, insert your fare into the farebox next to the driver, and take your seat. If you will need to transfer to another mode, tell the driver and they will give you a paper transfer ticket.

If you have an electronic fare card, tap the card on the reader when you board. A green light means your card is valid. A red light means your card is not valid fare and another form of payment is required. Check the screen of the card reader for more information.

If you have a paper pass, an active Transit app ticket, or a transfer from another mode show it to the driver as you board. If your transfer has expired (2 hours), you will need another method of payment.

Part of Downtown Salt Lake City operates as a Free Fare Zone — if you board and exit a bus within this zone, your ride is free. If you ride beyond this zone, you are required to pay fare.

Utah Valley Express

Utah Valley Express (UVX) charges fare of $2.50 ($1.25 reduced).

To ride UVX, riders must use an electronic fare card, a Transit app ticket, or a valid transfer from another mode. UVX buses do not have fareboxes and cannot accept cash. UVX station platforms also do not have ticket vending machines.

If you have an electronic fare card, tap your card on the card reader on the station platform before you board. A green light means your card is valid. A red light means your card is not valid fare and another form of payment is required.

If you have a paper pass, an active Transit app ticket, or a transfer from another mode, keep it with you and show it to a Fare Inspector or UTA Police Officer when asked. If your transfer has expired (2 hours), you will need another method of payment.

Express Bus and Ski Bus

Express Bus and Ski Bus are premium services and charge fare of $5 ($2.50 reduced).

If you are paying cash, have exact change. (Note: The ‘24-‘25 ski season Canyon Service buses (CS1 and CS2) do not accept cash.)

If you are transferring from local bus to either of these premium services, be prepared to pay the additional fare after the $2.50 applied by your transfer. Additional fare is required for every fare type (ticket, pass, electronic fare card, Transit app) when transferring from local bus or TRAX.

If you are using an electronic fare card, tap when you board. A green light means your card is valid. A red light means your card is not valid fare and another form of payment is required. A yellow light means additional fare is required. Check the screen of the card reader for more information.

Paying Your Fare on TRAX

TRAX charges the standard local fare of $2.50 ($1.25 reduced).

If you are using cash, use a ticket vending machine on the station platform to purchase your ticket. Keep it with you and show it to a Fare Inspector or UTA Police Officer when asked.

If you have an electronic fare card, tap your card on the card reader on the station platform before you board. A green light means your card is valid. A red light means your card is not valid fare and another form of payment is required.

If you have a paper pass, an active Transit app ticket, or a transfer from another mode, keep it with you and show it to a Fare Inspector or UTA Police Officer when asked. If your transfer has expired (2 hours), you will need another method of payment.

Part of Downtown Salt Lake City operates as a Free Fare Zone — if you board and exit TRAX within this zone, your ride on TRAX is free. If you ride beyond this zone, you are required to pay fare.

Paying Your Fare on FrontRunner

FrontRunner fare is based on how far you travel. The base fare of $2.50 will get you from one station to the next. Each station after that costs an additional 60 cents (exceptions: Vineyard Station and North Temple Station). Reduced fare begins at $1.25 with an additional fare of 25 cents per station.

If you are using cash, use a ticket vending machine on the station platform to purchase your ticket. You can purchase a one-way or a round-trip ticket. Keep it with you and show it to a Fare Inspector or UTA Police Officer when asked.

If you have an electronic fare card, tap your card on the card reader on the station platform before you board. A green light means your card is valid. A red light means your card is not valid fare and another form of payment is required. A yellow light means additional fare is required. Check the screen of the card reader for more information.

If you have a paper pass, keep it with you and show it to a Fare Inspector or UTA Police Officer when asked.

If you buy a ticket through the Transit app, enter the station where you will depart and the station you are traveling to. Activate the ticket before boarding and show it to a Fare Inspector or UTA Police Officer when asked.

When transferring from another mode, use the ticket vending machine to purchase a transfer ticket. The TVM will ask if you have a transfer credit; choose the option that applies to you, then complete your ticket purchase by selecting your destination. Show both your FrontRunner ticket and your transfer to a Fare Inspector or UTA Police Officer when asked.