San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) customers using PRONTO can ride for free in the month of September following board approval.
The plan aims to help riders smoothly transition from Compass Cards to the new PRONTO fare collection system. The PRONTO system is scheduled to launch in September. Critical to the success of changing the fare system is distributing PRONTO cards to riders.
"Providing free rides during the entire month of September to those who switch to PRONTO accounts is a good way for riders to familiarize themselves with the new system and get the new PRONTO cards into their hands," said Nathan Fletcher, MTS board chair and chair, San Diego County Board of Supervisors. "This board of directors is committed to making transit in San Diego more convenient; and this new system will help increase accessibility to our trolleys and buses. Riders who participate in the free ride program this September will quickly realize the new system is easy to use and convenient, making for a better user experience."
MTS is planning an aggressive campaign in August to make it easy for riders to transition.
"It will be a big effort to transition hundreds of thousands of people to PRONTO. But offering riders with a free PRONTO card and free rides during the launch is a great incentive," said Sharon Cooney, MTS CEO. "Once they start using PRONTO regularly, riders will quickly realize how much better and easier the experience is, and they will also see some of the other exciting enhancements we have waiting for them."
Ridership on MTS buses and Trolleys has been slowly increasing since it hit a low point in April 2020 at the height of the Stay-at-Home order. MTS is currently carrying approximately 134,000 passenger trips per weekday--approximately 50 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
At its May meeting, the board of directors directed staff to report back with a comprehensive plan designed to attract riders back to the system. The centerpiece to the agency's plan is offering those who have either a PRONTO card or mobile app for the ability to ride free of charge for the entire month of September.
