Starting in early 2025, the Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) will introduce its first-ever discount fare program for veterans as part of a new “Tap2Ride” Digital Identity service in partnership with the California Department of Technology (CDT) and the California Integrated Travel Project (Cal-ITP). 

SacRT’s six-month pilot program will provide discount fares for up to 60,000 eligible military veterans residing in the Sacramento region. The discount aims to recognize and support those who have served our country. 

“We are on the cusp of something very exciting here — the planned discount fares for military veterans are a first at SacRT and are a long time coming,” SacRT GM/CEO Henry Li said. “In this modern era, fare payments are going to get a lot easier because they are integrated into our customers’ everyday lives. You simply use the card you already have in your wallet or purse.” 

Preparing for the Transition

While the program will officially launch early next year when all the new tap devices are installed onboard buses and at light rail stations, military veterans can begin the pre-registration process now at the state website, which is connected to the federal Department of Veterans Affairs database for easy eligibility verification. 

“We are very excited to implement this discount for those who have served our country,” said SacRT Board Chair Patrick Kennedy. “This initiative is just one of many ways we are working with the state to make transit more accessible and affordable.” 

Benefits of the Program

Starting next year when SacRT has the “Tap2Ride” system in place, seniors aged 65 and older will also benefit from the inclusion of a digital identification framework when they register their credit or debit card.

Although seniors aged 62 and older are eligible to receive discount fare under SacRT’s approved fare structure, the age qualification for senior citizenship in the State of California is 65. That system taps into the federal Social Security Administration database to confirm eligibility and provides greater security while protecting the personal information of those using the system.

Once launched, the discount program will serve as a trial period, during which SacRT will conduct a Title VI analysis to ensure the program benefits low-income and minority riders. Feedback will be gathered from participating military veterans to assess the program’s impact and viability for long-term implementation. 

The new “Tap2Ride” program aims to make fare payment easier, faster, and more accessible for all riders, allowing them to pay for bus and light rail fares with just a tap of their credit or debit cards that are pre-registered through the Digital ID Framework. 

SacRT riders who prefer to continue using their existing fare payment methods such as Connect Card or ZipPass will have that option as well. 

What’s Next?

As part of this initiative, SacRT is also planning to integrate all fare payment methods into a single unified system over the next year, providing a streamlined experience for all passengers. 

The move will allow passengers to benefit from features like “fare capping,” which automatically calculates the lowest fare based on the number of rides taken in a day.