CATA launches Pay Your Way
Friday, January 9, 2026
Categories: General
The Capital Area Transportation Authority is launching its new Pay Your Way campaign to inform riders of the many ways to pay their fare, "From Cash to Contactless — Ready to Ride."
Pay Your Way emphasizes flexibility and choice with a full range of payment options available to CATA riders. Customers can use traditional methods, such as cash and passes, or choose from several contactless options, including:
- Tapping a debit or credit card (Visa or Mastercard).
- Using mobile wallets, such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, on a phone or smartwatch.
- Managing tickets and accounts digitally through Transit app or the CATA Mobile Pay app.
- Coming soon: Buy and load prepaid fare cards at CATA locations, with options to reload at select stores.
The various payment methods are accepted across CATA services, including Fixed-Route, Spec-Tran, Redi-Ride, Connector, Rural Service, Shopping Bus, Lot Link, Night Owl and CATA Rydz. Riders can use contactless payment options on any CATA vehicle that has a validator or tablet. Availability may vary by service, so customers should visit
the Fares webpage for full details on which payment options can be used with each service.
For more information, visit
our website, contact Customer Experience at
info@cata.org, or call 517-394-1000 (weekdays 7 a.m.–7 p.m., weekends 9 a.m.–5 p.m.).