Manatee Transit Now Offers Mobile Ticketing Outside County

MANATEE COUNTY, FL – Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) buses will expand mobile ticketing options Monday, meaning the Token Transit app can be used to purchase the R-Card/Regional Bus Pass honored by both MCAT and Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT).

In addition, Skyway ConneXion passengers can begin using mobile ticketing for travel between Manatee and Pinellas counties.

Mobile ticketing provides a simple, cost-effective approach to buying bus passes using a mobile device. The one-year pilot program makes available to MCAT passengers the Token Transit software application for the purchase of single-ride fares, as well as daily, weekly and monthly bus passes.

Instructions to download the Token Transit app, purchase MCAT single-ride fares and bus passes are available onboard MCAT buses, at transit stations and on the MCAT website.

Once purchased, each mobile ticket provides a countdown to expiration, and the mobile device screen displays a unique picture and color that changes daily and includes the current time. Transit operators are aware of these unique “pictures and color of the day,” so the screen shot provides quick and easy visual validation as the passenger boards the bus.

“Passengers are requesting mobile ticketing as a fare option for regional travel," said William Steele, Manatee County’s transit division manager. "Veterans in our community use the bus system for travel between Manatee and Sarasota counties, and to the Bay Pines Medical Center, via the Skyway ConneXion. Expanding the mobile ticketing pilot program to support regional travel is a natural progression for this convenient app."

Image via MCAT