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Buy your way with mobile pay: More convenient payment options coming soon

Friday, June 27, 2025

Categories: Blog

The days of straightening bills or hearing coins fall into the farebox are becoming less common. Contactless payment is here, and CATA riders are embracing it. Since the introduction of Mobile Pay — CATA’s first contactless payment option — riders have enjoyed its convenience.

Mobile ticketing is available through the new CATA Mobile Pay app and integrated within Transit app, offering an easy way for riders to purchase and use fare directly from their smartphones. Transit app also provides trip planning, real-time bus tracking and other tools for fixed-route riders.

And this is just the beginning. By fall 2025, CATA will install vending machines at key transit locations, including the CATA Transportation Center in downtown Lansing, Capital Area Multimodal Gateway and MSU-CATA Transportation Center at Ramp 1 in East Lansing. These machines will allow riders to buy preloaded CATA Prepaid Fare Cards that can be reloaded as needed.

Later this year, CATA will roll out even more convenience with contactless payments via credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay with ‘tap and go’ functionality. For those who prefer to pay with cash, rest assured it will always be accepted.

Visit the fares webpage for information about payment options. For mobile pay details, visit the mobile pay webpage

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This content has been published in the 2025 Community Report.  

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