NJ Transit Rolls Out Tap-to-Pay Cards for Bus and Rail System

This week marked a shift in how NJ Transit handles fares. The agency launched Fare-Pay cards, bringing tap-and-go payment to its buses and trains. The Sept. 19, 2025 rollout marked their first big push into electronic ticketing.

"With the expansion of FARE-PAY, we're making it easier for customers to purchase tickets and passes with greater flexibility," NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri said in a press release. "It's part of our ongoing commitment to modernize and enhance the everyday experience for those who rely on NJ Transit."

The switch ends a long-standing hassle for bus riders. "At the moment, NJ Transit buses are exact change," Joshua Leinsdorf, an Atlantic Highlands bus rider, said per APP.com. "I find myself scrambling to break a $5 bill, so I do think the cards are a very good idea."

The cards work in several ways. They store monthly passes, hold 10-ride tickets, or act like a wallet. Riders tap when boarding, and for cash fares, they tell drivers their stop to set the right zone price.

The system moves millions. Each year, 219.6 million people ride NJ Transit. Buses see 138.7 million trips, trains carry 59.3 million, while light rail moves 21.6 million riders.

Before the full launch, NJ Transit tested Fare-Pay last April. The trial ran on Newark Light Rail and four bus routes, with stops at key spots like Willowbrook Mall and Wayne Transit Center.

Other cities beat NJ Transit to electronic fares by years. New York got MetroCard in 1994. Philadelphia switched to Key cards in 2017. D.C. picked up SmarTrip in 1999, while Chicago started its system back in 1997.

NJ Transit's Kyalo Mulumba spoke about the timing: "The fare card fits into our bigger push to update how people pay ... we have initiated new payment options such as mobile app ticketing, web ticketing and upgraded Ticket Vending Machines, all leading up to this exciting deployment of the fare card."

Starting Oct. 1, cash loads become an option for riders without bank cards. The setup includes free switches between routes within two hours for local trips.

Six spots now sell Fare-Pay cards through machines and ticket windows: Port Authority Bus Terminal, Old Bridge, Lakewood, Atlantic City Bus Terminal, Wildwood and Walter Rand Transportation Center. Sign-ups protect balances and let riders set auto-reload.