California’s Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) officials report that adoption of its Wave fare payment system remains strong, with approximately 61% of OC Bus boardings now using Wave cards or contactless payment options as the agency advances efforts to modernize fare collection and improve the transit experience.

Since launching in October 2025, the Wave system has steadily replaced previous fare media with faster, more flexible payment options designed to streamline boarding, improve reliability, and help riders more easily access fare discounts and cost-saving benefits, said OCTA

Wave Adoption

Wave and contactless payments accounted for approximately 31% of OC Bus boardings when the system launched in October 2025. By March 2026, adoption had nearly doubled to 60% and continued growing to approximately 61% in April.

OCTA officials added that during the same period, farebox payments — including cash, magnetic stripe passes, and transfers — declined from 54% of boardings to 39%, reflecting the continued transition to contactless and account-based payment methods.

“The continued growth of the Wave system shows that riders are embracing a more convenient and modern way to pay for transit,” said OCTA Chair Jamey M. Federico. “Wave helps speed up boarding, simplifies fare payment, and ensures riders can more easily take advantage of discounts and features that automatically provide the best value for passengers.”

As of the end of last month, OCTA had more than 255,000 active transit accounts, including approximately 159,000 physical Wave card accounts and 97,000 virtual Wave mobile accounts. The system allows riders to pay using a physical Wave card, the mobile app, or contactless debit and credit cards, including Apple Pay and Google Pay.

Enhancing the Ridership Experience

Wave’s account-based system offers several features designed to enhance convenience for riders, including free two-hour transfers, balance protection, auto-load capabilities, and online account management. Fare capping also ensures riders never pay more than the equivalent daily or monthly fare without needing to pre-purchase passes.

 To support accessibility and convenience throughout Orange County, OCTA has expanded the Wave retail network to more than 400 locations countywide — up from 113 retail outlets that previously sold paper passes.

As of April, retail partners processed more than 60,000 Wave card sales and reload transactions, totaling approximately $1.17 million, officials said.

OCTA is also continuing efforts to expand in-person retail access for customers who rely on cash-based transactions, including targeted outreach to additional retailers in the Little Saigon area and other communities throughout Orange County.

All nine Orange County community colleges and three universities now participate in the Wave program, along with 13 social service agencies and 10 employers that help connect riders with transit access and reduced-fare opportunities.

The successful transition follows OCTA’s completion of the phase-out of magnetic-stripe paper passes as of May 1, officials said.