The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority’s (KCATA) mobile app now allows customers to pay their fare, plan a trip, and track their bus or streetcar, all in one easy-to-use app.

Mobile payment is the most asked-for and anticipated feature of the new app. Now customers can use a credit card to purchase fares through the app. There’s no need to carry around cash just for bus fare. And riders don’t have to keep track of their paper tickets, passes, transfers, or change cards, which were issued in lieu of change when a rider didn’t have exact fare and overpaid the fare.

“The early response to this app has been tremendous,” said Robbie Makinen, KCATA’s president/CEO. “Many people tell us this technology will allow them to ride transit more easily. This will provide a great benefit for visitors, people who ride every once in a while, as well as frequent riders.”

The new app is available for Apple and Android smartphones, and accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. The app can be used on any RideKC fixed route in the Kansas City area, including Johnson County, Wyandotte County, and Independence buses.

With the new app, customers have immediate access to the type of fare they want, whether it is a 31-day pass or a single ride. Customers don’t need to get to a store to buy a pass or wait for shipment from the RideKC online store.

Another benefit of the mobile payment is that it is expected to make boarding the bus quicker. Rather than waiting for customers to insert the correct combination of dollar bills and change into the farebox, the driver can look at the rider’s phone to confirm the fare is valid, and the customer can take a seat.

The app also includes two of the most popular features of the RideKC.org website: planning a trip on transit, and tracking a bus or streetcar.

To plan a trip on any RideKC bus or streetcar, customers just enter a street address or place name for your start and destination and select “Go.” App users can also select points on the in-app map to use as a start or destination for a trip. The app will provide the best matches for the trip.

To track a RideKC bus and KC Streetcar, customers can use the “Where’s My Ride?” feature. Users just enter the route name or number, or select any of the nearby stop icons for routes with upcoming arrivals. Real-time tracking is not currently supported for Johnson County, Wyandotte County, or Independence buses.

The RideKC app is available as part of a one-year pilot program between the RideKC partners — KCATA, Johnson County, Unified Government of Wyandotte County, and Independence — and the vendor team of Trapeze Group and Kentkart.