Fares

Every time you board a Metro Bus Fixed Route bus you must pay a fare, either in cash, token, 1-Day, 7-day or 31-day pass, 10-ride pass, transfer ticket or coupon. For more information about Metro Bus fares call 251.RIDE (7433). 

Fares Below Are Effective November 1, 2009.

$1.00 CASH FARE
Riders do not need exact change. In addition to coins, Metro Bus's Fare Collection system will accept $1, $5, $10, or $20 bills. The system will issue credit in the form of a debit change card that may be used for future fares. Transfers require an additional fare. 

25¢ TRANSFER FARE
For cash, token or 10-ride pass users; the transfer fee is paid when you board the first bus of your trip. Request a transfer ticket from the driver when you board the first bus. Transfer tickets are used to complete a one-way trip and cannot be issued for your return trip. Transfers can be made anywhere on the fixed route system, are good only on the day they are issued and are good for 60 minutes. The transfer ticket expiration date and time are printed on the back of the ticket. 

If you use a 1-Day, 7-day or 31-day pass, you do not need to request a transfer ticket. Seniors paying a 50¢ half fare, pay a 10¢ transfer fare during off-peak hours weekdays and all day Saturday. 

IMPORTANT: When boarding a bus have your pass ready to swipe through the farebox. 

$8.50 10-RIDE PASS
The 10-ride pass is good for 10 rides on the Metro Bus Fixed Route system. A 10-ride pass does not have an expiration date. The farebox prints the number of rides used on each pass as trips are made. 10-ride passes are available at Metro Bus's Transit Center and pass outlets at major grocery stores. 

$8.50 10 TOKENS
A token is good for one ride on any fixed route Metro Bus. Tokens are sold in quantities of 10 and are only available at the Metro Bus Transit Center. Tokens are also sold out of the token machine at the Metro Bus Transit Center 11 for $10.00. 

$3.00 1-DAY PASS
The 1-day pass is good on any Metro Bus fixed route for unlimited rides during the calendar day you use the pass. 1-day passes may be purchased and used at any time.  They do not expire until the day they are used. 1-day passes are a convenient and money saving way to ride Metro Bus for just one day. 1-Day passes may be purchased on the bus right from the fare box. 

$14.50 7-DAY PASS
The 7-day pass is good on any Metro Bus fixed route for unlimited rides during the 7 days following the first day you use the pass. 7-day passes may be purchased and used at any time during the month. 7-day passes are a convenient and money saving way to ride Metro Bus. 7-Day passes are available at the Metro Bus Transit Center and pass outlets at major grocery stores. 

$41.00 31-DAY PASS
The 31-day pass is good on any Metro Bus fixed route for unlimited rides during the 31 days following the first day you use the pass. 31-day passes may be purchased and used at any time during the month. 31-day passes are a convenient and money saving way to ride the Metro Bus. 31-day passes are available at the Metro Bus Transit Center and pass outlets at major grocery stores. 

FREE SUMMER YOUTH PASS
For the summer months of June - August Metro Bus makes available a summer youth pass providing youth ages 6 to 17 unlimited rides on the Metro Bus fixed route system. The pass is available at the Metro Bus Transit Center. They are not valid on Metro Bus Dial-a-Ride. To obtain a pass, a parent or guardian will need to go to the Transit Center with the youth to register. By registering, lost or destroyed passes may be replaced once. Summer youth groups interested in obtaining quantities of passes for summer activities transportation should contact the Metro Bus Customer Service Coordinator at 320.251.1499 ext. 119. 

50¢ SENIOR CITIZEN / DISABLED RIDER HALF FARE
Individuals 65 and older, disabled, Freedom Card, Medicare Card, Metro Bus Dial-a-Ride Specialized Service cardholders, or other eligible cardholders may ride for half fare.

Eligible riders pay half fare during off-peak hours weekdays and all day Saturday by showing their Metro Bus Freedom Card, Medicare Card or Metro Bus Dial-a-Ride Specialized Service card to the driver when boarding the bus.

Half fares must be paid in cash or debit change card.

Off peak weekday hours are 8:40 a.m. - 3:40 p.m. and 5:40 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. and all day Saturday and Sunday.

10¢ SENIOR CITIZEN / DISABLED RIDER TRANSFER FEE HALF FARE
Individuals 65 and older, disabled, Freedom Card, Medicare Card, Metro Bus Dial-a-Ride Specialized Service cardholders, or other eligible cardholders may ride for half fare, including a discounted transfer.

Transfer tickets are used to complete a one-way trip and cannot be issued for your return trip.

Half fare transfer fee must be paid in cash or debit change card.

For cash, token or 10-ride pass users the half fare transfer fee is paid when you board the first bus of your trip.

Transfers can be made anywhere on the fixed route system, are good only on the day they are issued and are good for 60 minutes.

The transfer ticket expiration date and time are printed on the back of the ticket.

$5.00 SENIOR CITIZEN / DISABLED 10-RIDE PASS
Individuals 65 and older, disabled, Freedom Card, Medicare Card, Metro Bus Dial-a-Ride Specialized Service cardholders, or other eligible cardholders who are eligible to ride for half fare may purchase a reduced rate 10-Ride Pass.

The 10-Ride pass is only sold at the Metro Bus Transit Center.

DISABLED VETERANS RIDE FREE
Effective July 1, 2009 disabled veterans ride fixed route transit services for free with proper ID. 

The disability has to be “Service Connected” to receive the free ride. It will identified under the ID photo. 

CHILDREN 5 AND UNDER RIDE FREE
Up to two children five and under ride free with a paid fare on any Metro Bus. 

FARE OUTLETS
Different fare types are available at these locations:  

On Buses Only
  • 1-Day Pass (Purchase at Farebox Only)

The Metro Bus Transit Center, Downtown St. Cloud
  • Tokens (Only available at Transit Center)
  • 10-ride Metro Bus Fixed Route passes
  • 10-ride Metro Bus Dial-A-Ride passes
  • 7-day and 31-day Metro Bus Fixed Route passes
  • 31-day Metro Bus Dial-A-Ride all service passes

Coborn's Grocery Stores, University Drive and Centennial Plaza in St. Cloud; Sartell; Superstore in Sauk Rapids; Superstore in Sartell; Cash Wise St. Cloud and Waite Park; Byerly's, Division Street & 25th Avenue
  • 10-ride Metro Bus Fixed Route passes
  • 10-ride Metro Bus Dial-A-Ride passes
  • 7-day and 31-day Metro Bus Fixed Route passes
  • 31-day Metro Bus Dial-A-Ride all service passes

TRANSFERS
When taking two or more buses to complete your trip.  Riders can transfer anywhere in the system for up to 60 minutes.  
This is the procedure to follow:

Request a transfer ticket from the driver of the first bus when transferring to another route.

Transfers are paid when paying the fare on your first bus.

The transfer ticket will "pop up" from the electronic fare card slot in the farebox.

1-Day, 7-day and 31-day pass users do not have to request a transfer.

INSTRUCTIONS PAYING YOUR FARE

Have your fare ready when you board the bus.

Change will be given in the form of a debit change card good for payment on future trips.

Insert only the designated fare type into its proper opening in the farebox. (For example: Do not put coins in the electronic fare card slot.)

If a fare payment is rejected, the farebox will indicate so and the ride must be paid with another fare type.

After paying your fare, the farebox will “beep” indicating a full fare is paid.

PAYING FARES WITH CASH

Coins: Pennies up to dollar coins will be accepted by dropping coins one at a time in the coin insertion cup. 

Bills: Only flat, unfolded bills will be accepted into the bill insertion slot. 

The farebox will issue a debit change card for any fare payment in excess of the $1.00 cash fare.   For example: If you put a five dollar bill in the bill insertion slot for your$1.00 fare you will receive a $4.00 debit change card.   The next time you board a Metro Bus you can use the debit change card to pay for your next fare and any additional fare required to complete your trip. 

USING MAGNETIC FARE PASSES
The first time any 1-Day, 7-Day or 31-day pass, 10-ride pass, change card, or transfer is used, put the fare pass into the electronic fare pass slot in the farebox to activate. The arrow on the pass must be facing you and pointing down. Remember to take good care of your magnetic paper fare pass, it is as valuable as cash and is not replaceable or refundable if lost, stolen, destroyed or unable to be recognized by the farebox.