Senior citizens (60+), disabled individuals, and Medicare recipients ride for a reduced fare on fixed-route buses and Trolleys. Here's how:

To ride for reduced fare on fixed route buses show the driver proper ID, pay your cash fare or show your monthly pass. On rail vehicles purchase your ticket from the vending machine in advance of boarding and show it or your monthly pass and proper ID to the fare inspector or conductor upon request. We accept the following forms of identification:

• Drivers License
• Medicare Card
• MTS Senior/Disabled I.D. Card
• NCTD Senior/Disabled I.D. Card
• State of California DMV Placard I.D. (the white placard receipt from the DMV)
• State of California Senior I.D. Card

For information on reduced fares and monthly passes for Senior/Disabled/Medicare riders, visit the Fares page.

For information about San Diego County's public and private specialized transportation providers for the elderly and disabled, visit www.stridesd.org.

Getting Your Transit Identification Card

If you don't have one of the I.D.s listed above, you can obtain a transit I.D. at one of two locations;

• The MTS Senior/Disabled/Medicare recipient I.D. is available at The Transit Store at 102 Broadway in downtown San Diego. The Transit Store is open on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The price is $6.
• The NCTD Reduced Fare I.D. card is free and can be obtained at two locations:
  • 810 Mission Avenue in Oceanside weekdays from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Replacement cards can be purchased for a fee of $5.
  • The Escondido Transit Center from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Replacement cards can be purchased for a fee of $5.
    

To obtain an MTS Senior I.D., senior citizens (60+) must show proof of age with one of the following:

• Birth certificate
• Driver's license
• State of California Senior I.D.
• Medicare card
• Immigration papers
• CO card
• Passport
• Affidavit from a physician or clergy person

To obtain an MTS Disabled I.D.:

If your disability is not a visible one, you must provide us with a photo I.D. (e.g. driver's license, passport, out-of-state I.D., etc.) and one of the following:

• Medicare Card
• State of California DMV Disabled Placard I.D. (the white receipt from the DMV)
• A statement from a physician or rehabilitation center (on original letterhead or prescription notepad with an original signature -- photo-copies can not be accepted), in addition to the nature of your disability, the statement should identify whether it is permanent or temporary in nature
• I.E.P. from school for disabled students
• Current year S.S.I. or S.S.A., or S.S.D.I. award letter
• Letter from the Epilepsy Foundation
• Letter from the San Deigo Center for the Blind
• Letter from the San Diego Regional Center
• Veterans Administration Card with picture (must say "service connected" on the card)

If you have a question as to whether your information is acceptable to verify disability, please call The Transit Store (619 234-1060) between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Temporary ID's are issued to individuals with a limited term disability for a period of six months, with one six month extension.

Naturally, if you use a trained service animal you are both welcome on board all buses and rail vehicles at all times.

For complete information on applying for a MTS Disabled ID Card, click here to read and download our brochure, "ID Card Application for Individuals with Disabilities." You can print and fill out the "Applicant Information" section and bring it, along with proper ID and verification of disability, to The Transit Store to obtain your MTS Disabled ID Card.

Other Accommodations for Senior, Disabled and Medicare recipient Riders

The front of every Bus and areas next to each Trolley door have priority seating for our Senior and Disabled riders.

All Buses, Trolleys and the COASTER trains have lift or ramp mechanisms to assist customers in wheelchairs or with other mobility impairments to board. The international symbol of accessibility is on Bus stops that are accessible to operate the ramp or lift. All Trolley stations are wheelchair accessible. All Coaster stations are wheelchair accessible. Most of our newer buses are low floor buses, which means that there are no steps to climb to enter the bus.

Most buses also have a "kneeling" feature that allows the front of the bus to lower towards the curb, easing the first step into the bus. "Kneeling" buses are designated at the front door.

If you need to use the lift, or have the bus "kneel", be sure and ask the driver when he or she opens the door. We'll be happy to assist you in using these features. Trolley conductors also welcome the opportunity to assist you.

We'll relay transit information via teletype service from 5:30 a.m. to 8:20 p.m. on weekdays, and from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on weekends and 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on holidays, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas days.