MTS paper monthly passes are transitioning to the Compass Card. The Compass Card will provide new pass options and easy reloading features for MTS riders! For more information, visit www.511sd.com/compass.
Children five years old and younger with any paying passenger
FREE*
FREE*
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
*Up to two children may ride free with each paying adult.
Exact fare is required. Bus drivers cannot make change. No upgrades or free transfers to or from the Trolley or other buses are allowed. On the Trolley, some ticket vending machines require exact change, some accept $1 or $5 bills and some accept credit/debit cards. Susan B. Anthony coins are also accepted.
One-way Trolley tickets, available for $2.50 from ticket vending machines, are good for travel for two hours from the time of purchase on any MTS Trolley. Transfers between Trolleys are allowed to complete your one-way trip. Transfers between trolley and bus and Round trips are not allowed with a one-way ticket. Purchase your ticket before boarding the Trolley from the ticket vending machines at each station. 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.
Regional Day Passes are $5 and available from ticket vending machines and bus operators . They are good for unlimited rides on most MTS bus and Trolley routes (except Premium Express, Rural, Access, and special services) as well as NCTD BREEZE and SPRINTER. The RegionPlus Day Pass is $12 and good for all services listed above as well as Premium bus service and the COASTER. To purchase a RegionPlus Day Pass on a regular service (non-Premium service) bus, you must tell the driver before you pay your fare that you want the $12 RegionPlus Day Pass.
Regional Monthly Passes
A Regional Monthly Pass is good for rides on MTS Shuttle, Local, Urban, and Express buses; all Trolley lines; and NCTD BREEZE and SPRINTER. A Regional Monthly Pass is also good for a $1 discount per zone on Rural routes. Regional Monthly Passes are not valid on ADA Complementary Paratransit Services.
Regional Youth Monthly Passes- $36 For ages 6 through 18. School or transit youth identification is required.
Regional Premium Express Monthly Passes
A Regional Premium Express Bus Monthly Pass is good for unlimited rides on MTS Shuttle, Local, Urban, Express, and Premium Express buses, all Trolley lines, NCTD BREEZE and SPRINTER. A Regional Premium Express Bus Monthly Pass is also good for a $1 discount per zone on Rural routes. Regional Monthly Passes are not valid on ADA Complementary Paratransit Services.
Regional Premium Youth Monthly Passes - $50 For ages 6 through 18. School or transit youth identification is required.
Day Passes
MTS does not offer transfers. For trips on multiple buses and Trolleys, buy a day pass good for unlimited use all day.
Day Passes are good for unlimited rides on most MTS bus and Trolley routes (except Premium Express, Rural, Access, and special services) as well as NCTD BREEZE and SPRINTER. Day passes are good for the day or dates designated on the pass.
A one-time $2 cost for the Compass Card is included with purchase at The Transit Store or any Trolley ticket machine. Once you have a Compass Card it can be reloaded at Trolley ticket machines and The Transit Store. A 1-Day Pass can also be reloaded on most MTS Buses. Empty adult Compass Cards can be purchased at The Transit Store or at Albertsons.
Watch a demo on how to buy or reload a Day Pass on Compass Card:
Day Pass Type
Price
A Compass Card is required. For the first-time purchase of a Day Pass, you must pay an additional $2 fee for your Compass Card, which is added to the price of your Day Pass. More info
Regional Day Pass (Unlimited use on MTS Trolley Lines and most MTS bus routes, NCTD BREEZE, and SPRINTER routes. Allows use for the rest of the service day from time purchased.)
$5
RegionPlus Day Pass (Includes MTS Premium
Express buses and COASTER.)
$12
Regional 2-Day Pass (Allows use on
2 consecutive service days, including day of purchase.)
$9
Regional 3-Day Pass (Allows use on
3 consecutive service days, including day of purchase.)
$12
Regional 4-Day Pass (Allows use on
4 consecutive service days, including day of purchase.)
Regional 14-Day Passes are $43 (Sold at Trolley ticket machines, The Transit Store, online at 511sd.com, Albertsons stores, and the other pass sales outlets. Allows use on 14 consecutive service days from the date of purchase.)
Premium 14-Day Passes are $60 and sold at Albertsons stores, The Transit Store, ticket vending machines and the other pass sales outlets. Allows use on 14 consecutive service days from the date of purchase. No advance sales.
Children five years old and younger with any paying passenger
FREE*
N/A
FREE*
*Up to two children may ride free with each paying adult.
For North County Transit District (NCTD) fares, please visit gonctd.com.
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 IDs, please visit our page about Senior/Disabled/Medicare Recipient riders.
MTS ACCESS fare: $4.50. MTS ACCESS and MTS ADA Suburban Paratransit fare includes a Premium Day Pass for use on the Bus, Trolley, and other transit operators.
Tokens
Quantity
Price
Ride Value
Single Token
$2.50
$2.50
Pack of 20
$50
$2.50
Roll of 40
$100
$2.50
Tokens are available at The Transit Store.
On MTS Buses Universal Tokens are accepted as one bus fare and cannot be used to purchase a Day Pass.
Universal Tokens are accepted at Trolley ticket vending machines. Each token has a $2.50 value and can be used towards the purchase of all tickets and passes. If cash is used to cover the difference for a one-way ticket or Day Pass, change will be given; if tokens are only used, change will not be given.
The MTS Universal Token is also accepted for one fare on NCTD BREEZE buses. MTS Tokens are not valid on the NCTD SPRINTER or NCTD COASTER.
Purchasing passes, tickets and tokens
Monthly Passesgo on sale on the 20th of the month and remain on sale until the 10th of the next month. Monthly passes are good for one calendar month, from the first to the last day of the month. See the prices for monthly passes in the chart above
The Check Cashing Place and New Money Express locations no longer sell/reload Compass Cards. You may purchase or reload Compass Cards:
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.
