The SACOG team at the launch of their new regional smart card system.
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The SACOG team at the launch of their new regional smart card system.
The Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) launched the Connect Card, a region-wide fare collection system implemented by INIT Innovations in Transportation Inc. The system incorporates nine transit agencies covering six counties within the Sacramento region serving a population of 2.5 million.
Connect Cards can be used on more than 500 buses and at approximately 80 light rail station platforms using smart card passenger terminals. Retail sales terminals and the consumer website will provide riders with convenient ways to add transit fare or cash value to their smartcards.
Travel by public transit will become much simpler using the Connect Card. Using INIT’s PROXmobil passenger terminals, riders will tap on when boarding buses, or at platforms when getting on trains. The transaction will automatically be debited for the exact fare for that ride. Reduced boarding times at stops will increase efficiency and on-time performance while decreasing transit driver workloads.
The Connect Card system supports SACOG’s mission to offer an efficient region-wide transportation system connecting the counties of El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba. Increases in ridership are also expected, as SACOG hopes the convenience of the Connect Card will entice more people to take public transportation.
The management of all relevant fare details, including revenue sharing between agencies, is controlled by INIT’s back-office system, MOBILEvario. This software solution configures all fare collection and clearing processes for each of the individual agencies while streamlining work processes and enhancing services for all passengers.
The Connect Card soft launched last fall and has built up to over 2,000 users. Now that the system is live, the nine-agency transit consortium expects more seamless travel throughout the region.
The region’s fixed-route system finished out the year with a total of 373.5 million rides. Adding 12.3 million rides over 2024 represents an increase that is equal to the annual transit ridership of Kansas City.
The service is a flexible, reservation-based transit service designed to close the first- and last-mile gaps and connect riders to employment for just $5 per day.
The upgraded system, which went live earlier this month, supports METRO’s METRONow vision to enhance the customer experience, improve service reliability, and strengthen long-term regional mobility.
The agreement provides competitive wages and reflects strong labor-management collaboration, positive working relationships, and a shared commitment to building a world-class transit system for the community, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
The priorities are outlined in the 2026 Board and CEO Initiatives and Action Plan, which serves as a roadmap to guide the agency’s work throughout the year and ensure continued progress and accountability on voter-approved transportation investments and essential mobility services.
