Use the following shortcuts to find information about each fare type. |
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Learn about other MTS Pass Programs Download the MTS Fare Facts Brochure |
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Trolley fares are based on trip distance. Select your correct fare from the chart below, or see the Trolley route map posted on the ticket machines at each station. Some machines require exact change, some accept $1.00 or $5.00 bills. Susan B. Anthony coins are also accepted.
| Length of Travel |
Regular One-Way Fare |
Regular Round- Trip Fare |
Reduced Fare** One- Way |
Reduced Fare** Round- Trip |
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| Within Downtown San Diego* |
$1.25* |
$1.25* |
$1.00 |
$1.25* |
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| 1 Station |
$1.50 |
$3.00 |
$1.00 |
$2.00 |
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| 2 Stations |
$1.75 |
$3.50 |
$1.00 |
$2.00 |
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| 3 Stations |
$2.00 |
$4.00 |
$1.00 |
$2.00 |
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| 4-10 Stations |
$2.25 |
$4.50 |
$1.00 |
$2.00 |
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| 11-19 Stations |
$2.50 |
$5.00† |
$1.00 |
$2.00 |
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| 20+ Stations |
$3.00 |
$6.00† |
$1.00 |
$2.00 |
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* - The Downtown San Diego cash fare allows unlimited rides (including round trips) within the Center City area only for two-hours from the time of ticket purchase. The Center City stations are County Center/Little Italy, Santa Fe Depot, America Plaza, Civic Center, Fifth Avenue, City College, Park & Market, 12th & Imperial Transit Center, Gaslamp Quarter, Convention Center, and Seaport Village.
** - Reduced fares are valid for Seniors, Disabled, and Medicare recipients.
† - Consider purchasing a $5.00 Regional Day Pass which is good for all trolley trips and most bus routes for one operating day.
One-Way Trolley Tickets, available from ticket vending machines, are good for travel for two hours from the time of purchase on any MTS Trolley line and may be used to travel until the expiration time stamped on the ticket. Round trips are not allowed with a one-way ticket.
Round-Trip Trolley Tickets, available from ticket vending machines at a rate of twice the one-way fare, can be used at any time on MTS Trolleys throughout the operating day.
Regional Day Passes are available from ticket vending machines and are good for unlimited rides on almost MTS Bus and Trolley routes (except Premium Express, Rural, ADA Paratransit, and Special Services) as well as NCTD BREEZE buses, SPRINTER and FAST. The Premium Regional Day Pass is valid for all routes covered by the Regular Regional Day Pass as well as MTS Premium Express Routes. Good for the day or dates designated on the pass. Valid for partial fare on the COASTER (upgrade required).
| Day Passes | Price |
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| Regular Regional Day Pass | $5.00 (allows use for the rest of the service day from time purchased) |
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| Premium Day Pass | $11.00 (allows use for the rest of the service day from time purchased) |
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| Regular Regional Two-Day Pass | $9.00 (allows use on 2 consecutive service days from date of purchase) |
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| Regular Regional Three-Day Pass | $12.00 (allows use on 3 consecutive service days from date of purchase) |
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| Regular Regional Four-Day Pass | $15.00 (allows use on 4 consecutive service days from date of purchase) |
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Exact fare, please. Drivers cannot make change. No upgrades or free transfers to or from the trolley or other buses are allowed. If your trip involves more than one bus or the trolley and a bus, consider purchasing a Day Pass.
| Fares By Route Type |
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| Route |
Fare |
Day Pass |
Regional Monthly Pass |
Youth Regional Monthly Pass |
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| Shuttle Routes: 851, 871, 872, 904 |
$1.00 |
$5.00 |
$64.00 |
$32.00 |
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| Local
Routes: |
$2.00 |
$5.00 |
$64.00 |
$32.00 |
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Urban Routes: |
$2.25 |
$5.00 |
$64.00 |
$32.00 |
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Express Routes: |
$2.50 |
$5.00 |
$64.00 |
$32.00 |
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Premium Express Routes: |
$5.00 |
$11.00 |
$90.00 |
$32.00 |
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Rural Routes: |
$5.00- $10.00 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
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| Senior Citizens (60+ years of age) & Disabled with ID (MTS and NCTD routes), and Medicare Recipients |
$1.00 |
$5.00/ $11.00 |
$16.00 |
N/A |
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Children five years old and younger with any paying passenger |
FREE |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
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| North County Transit District BREEZE Routes, SPRINTER & FAST |
$2.00 |
*** |
$64.00 |
$32.00 |
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*** - NCTD offers an NCTD Day Pass, good on NCTD routes only, for $4.00. For trips on both NCTD and MTS, purchase a $5.00 or $11.00 Regional Day Pass.
Upgrades and Free Transfers Are Not Allowed
There are no upgrades allowed. Passengers holding a $64 Regional Monthly Pass may only ride buses with a fare of up to $2.50 and must pay the full fare for Premium Express Routes. Regional Monthly Passes and Day Passes are valid for a $2.00 discount on COASTER fares.
Free transfers are not allowed. You must pay the full fare on each bus or trolley you take. If your trip involves more than one bus or the trolley and a bus, consider purchasing a Day Pass which allows unlimited rides for the duration of the service day .
Passes, Tickets and Tokens = Savings & Convenience
A Regional Monthly Pass will take you everywhere the Bus and Trolley go.
A Regional Monthly Pass is accepted for unlimited rides within a calendar month on the MTS and NCTD Bus and Trolley routes specified below. A Regional Monthly Pass is also good for a $2.00 discount COASTER fares. Regional Monthly Passes are not valid on ADA Complementary Paratransit Services or on Rural Routes.
Please show your Monthly Pass to the Bus driver when you board or to the Trolley Code Compliance or Security officer upon request. Have your identification handy in case you're asked to show it.
Regional $64.00-good for rides on MTS Shuttle, Local, Urban, and Express buses, all Trolley Lines, NCTD BREEZE Bus Routes, SPRINTER, and FAST.
Regional $90.00-good for rides on MTS Shuttle, Local, Urban, Express, and Premium Express buses, all Trolley Lines, NCTD BREEZE Bus Routes, SPRINTER, and FAST.
Youth
Regional Monthly Pass
$32.00-For ages 6 through 18. Good for all MTS and NCTD Bus routes, all Trolley Lines, the SPRINTER, and FAST. School or transit youth identification is required.
College
Monthly & Semester Pass
Detailed information on the College Pass Program.
Senior/Disabled/Medicare Recipient Monthly Pass
$16.00-Valid on all MTS Bus and Trolley services except
ADA Complementary Paratransit services and Rural Routes. Also good on NCTD buses. More
information on Senior/Disabled/Medicare Recipient
fares.
NCTD
BREEZE Monthly Passes
$54.00 good ONLY on North County Transit
District BREEZE buses. NOT transferable. Good for
rides on all NCTD bus routes (#101 and 302-450).
Full-month Regional Monthly Passes go on sale on the 25th of every month (20th of the month at The Transit Store), and remain on sale until the 10th of the next month.
Half-month Regional Monthly Passes (good for the last half of the month only) are half-price and go on sale on the 15th of every month and are on sale only at:
- The Transit Store - 102 Broadway, Downtown San Diego
- If the 15th falls on a weekend, the Transit Store will begin selling 1/2 Month Regional Passes on the preceding Friday (please remember that the pass will not be honored for fare until the 15th of the month)
You can purchase a Monthly Pass in person at The Transit Store, as well as at many locations throughout San Diego, including Longs Drug Stores and Ralphs and Vons grocery stores. For the outlet nearest you, contact the Regional Transit Information Office by dialing 5-1-1 and say Public Transportation or select option 3 or 619-233-3004 or InfoExpress (619) 685-4900 (for persons with hearing impairments TTY/TDD, 1-888-722-4889 ).
e-Shopping!!
Visit the online eStore to
purchase your monthly pass online.
If you're purchasing a discounted pass, you will be asked to show proof you qualify for the special fare. Please have your ID handy.
You can purchase your Monthly Pass through the mail by sending a check or money order to:
SANDAG
Pass Sales Administration
401 B Street, Suite 800
San Diego, CA 92101-4231
NCTD Passes may be obtained by telephone, mail, or in person. Please visit NCTD's website for more information.
Regional Day Passes are available from ticket vending machines and from bus drivers and are good for unlimited rides on almost MTS Bus and Trolley routes (except Premium Express, Rural, ADA Paratransit, and Special Services) as well as NCTD BREEZE buses, SPRINTER and FAST. The Premium Regional Day Pass is valid for all routes covered by the Regular Regional Day Pass as well as MTS Premium Express Routes. Bus operators only sell the one day Regional Day Pass for the same date of travel, no advance purchases are available. All day passes including multiple-day passes are available from ticket vending machines at Trolley stations or from the Transit Store. Day Passes are good for the day or dates designated on the pass. Valid for partial fare on the COASTER (upgrade required).
| Day Passes | Price |
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| Regular Regional Day Pass | $5.00 (allows use for the rest of the service day from time purchased) |
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| Premium Day Pass | $11.00 (allows use for the rest of the service day from time purchased) |
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| Regular Regional Two-Day Pass | $9.00 (allows use on 2 consecutive service days from date of purchase) |
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| Regular Regional Three-Day Pass | $12.00 (allows use on 3 consecutive service days from date of purchase) |
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| Regular Regional Four-Day Pass | $15.00 (allows use on 4 consecutive service days from date of purchase) |
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e-Shopping!!
Visit the online eStore to
purchase your Regional Day Passes online or the Transit
Store - 102 Broadway, Downtown San Diego
NCTD BREEZE Day Pass
The BREEZE Day Pass is good for unlimited rides on all BREEZE buses, SPRINTER and FAST service for $4.00 (Senior/Disabled/Medicare Recipient $2.00) for the day in which it is issued. Transfers to MTS services are not allowed. Visit www.gonctd.com for more information.
$1.50-For students and youth groups. Unlimited rides on all MTS, North County Transit District Bus and Trolley routes. Upgrades available for COASTER and Bay Ferry. Good for the day designated on the pass during non-peak hours. Advance ticketing required. Some travel and group restrictions apply. Please call (619) 233-9558 or Click Here for details.
| Quantity | Price |
Ride Value |
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| Single Token | $2.25 |
$2.25 |
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| Pack of 20 | $45.00 |
$2.25 |
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| Roll of 40 | $90.00 |
$2.25 |
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The Universal Token is good for a $2.25 fare on buses and trolleys only, no upgrades allowed. It cannot be used to purchase any other type of Trolley Ticket. You must press the "$2.25 With Token" fare button BEFORE inserting the token. For higher priced one-way Trolley trips, the token may not be used and you must pay full cash fare.
The MTS Universal Token is also accepted for one fare on NCTD BREEZE and FAST services.
The Universal Tokens are on sale only at the following locations:
- The Transit Store (Broadway at First, Downtown)
- Individual tokens, $2.25 (no discount)
- Packs of 20 tokens, $45.00
- Rolls of 40 tokens, $90.00 - Check Cashing Place (20 locations)
- Packs of 11 tokens, $24.75
Special Fares For Seniors (60+)/Disabled/Medicare Recipient Riders
For more information on services for Senior (60+)/Disabled/Medicare Recipient persons please visit our page about Senior/Disabled/Medicare Recipient riders.
Senior/Disabled/Medicare Recipient cash fare - $1.00 for Bus and Trolley.
Senior/Disabled/Medicare Recipient Regional Monthly Pass- $16.00 (more information)
Please show your identification to the Bus driver when requested as you pay exact fare, or to the Trolley Code Compliance or Security Officer when requested. For details about ID's, please visit our page about Senior/Disabled/Medicare Recipient riders.
CTS Paratransit fare: $3.50.
MTS ACCESS fare: $4.50.
MTS ACCESS and CTS Paratransit fare includes a Premium Day Pass for use on the Bus, Trolley, and other transit operators.
The MTS Access Rider's Guide brochure is available to view and download.
Where to pay your fare
On the Bus, cash and tokens go into the farebox at the time you board. If you are riding with a Regional Day Pass or Regional Monthly Pass, just show it to the driver when you board.
If you're paying cash to ride the Trolley, use the ticket vending machine before you board. Press the button for your correct fare, put your cash into the vending machine, and you'll be issued a ticket for proof of fare payment. Do NOT board the Trolley without a valid ticket or pass. You may be cited by a code compliance officer, resulting in a fine.
Special Buses to the "Q" have special fares
When the Chargers play at the stadium, special buses -- the Chargers Express -- carry fans to the Stadium and back. For complete information, see our Stadium Services section of Special Services.
Special Fare Promotions
Family Weekends : Every Saturday & Sunday, two children 12 and under ride free with any paying passenger 18 and over.
Friends Ride Free : On the following Holidays
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
- New Year's Day
Each paying passenger can bring a friend free on MTS Bus Routes and San Diego Trolley. For complete information on celebrated holidays and service levels, view each route's timetable.
Rail 2 Rail : Gives COASTER pass customers and AMTRAK passengers extra train travel options. A COASTER monthly pass lets you board any AMTRAK train within the zone limits of the pass at no extra charge. AMTRAK ticket holders can ride any COASTER train between Oceanside and San Diego within the origin/destionation stations listed on the ticket. Details are on www.gonctd.com and www.amtrakcalifornia.com.