San Diego’s Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and the North County Transit District (NCTD) officially launched the region’s brand-new PRONTO fare collection system. MTS and NCTD are celebrating the milestone with Free Rides in September for riders with a PRONTO card or the PRONTO mobile application. PRONTO will enhance ticketing functionality, access, and value for MTS and NCTD passengers. 

“PRONTO’s features and functionality make riding transit more accessible than ever before,” said Nathan Fletcher, MTS board chair and chair, San Diego County Board of Supervisors. “The system can be accessed via an app or a physical card with several different ticketing, loading, and account management options that work for everyone including our riders with disabilities or those without access to technology. PRONTO meets the needs of riders throughout the region. We hope everyone takes advantage of Ride Free with PRONTO September, reduce their carbon footprint, and learn how transit can work for them.”

Under development for four years, the new PRONTO system is more convenient, with new rider-requested functionality, and a “best fare” system that automatically calculates the best possible fare. With PRONTO, fares are capped at $6 per day or $72 per month for adult passes ($3/day and $23/month for seniors, riders with disabilities, and youth). Passengers simply tap or scan each time they ride, and the system will automatically deduct the appropriate fare.

New rider-friendly features include:

• Free transfers – one-way fares are valid for unlimited transfers between buses and Trolleys for up to two hours.

• Pay-as-you-go capabilities – riders no longer need to pay upfront for passes and can load just what they need for the day.

• Instant account reloads – funds added to PRONTO accounts can be accessed instantly through the new account-based system.

The PRONTO app, available for free download in the App Store and Google Play, allows riders to add money and purchase one-way fares, one-day, and monthly passes as well as COASTER passes. The app will also allow riders to add value to their accounts instantly and to track their rides and progress toward earning a day pass and month pass.