How does Paradise Pass work? Palm Tran to roll out new payment option on Sunday
A new way to pay for a bus trip in Palm Beach County has arrived.
Starting Sunday, a contactless payment option called the Paradise Pass will be available to Palm Tran riders, either in the form of a reloadable smart card or a mobile app.
For a limited time, those who register their cards at MyParadisePass.com will receive a $10 balance to their Paradise Pass card, said Palm Tran Executive Director Clinton Forbes. That’s equivalent to five single-trip rides or two day passes.
More: Palm Tran riders can soon pay fare with credit cards, smart watches and more
More: Why dialing 10 digits is now a must, and why Palm Beach will soon have a new area code
More: How should Okeechobee Boulevard change to be safer and more efficient?
Riders eligible for reduced fare, like students or seniors, should register their smart cards in person at the Palm Tran Connection office at 50 S. Military Trail, advised public information officer Joseph Harrington. That way, Palm Tran staff can code their Paradise Passes so it won't be necessary to show ID to get the discount upon each embarkment.
Paradise Pass smart cards will be distributed for free at major transit hubs throughout the county over the next month to jumpstart this transition.
“It would be a great time if you have not used transit in the past to try it out,” Harrington said.
The smart card, which costs $2, will also be available for sale at any Palm Beach County library, Paradise Pass kiosk, Palm Tran Connection office at 50 S. Military Trail or online at myparadisepass.com. Riders can reload their balances at these locations; if using the Paradise Pass app, available in the Apple and Google Play stores this week, riders can add funds to their accounts by phone.
Next year, the smart cards will be sold at certain stores. In the future, riders will be able to pay their fare with a credit or debit card.
“One of the obstacles of riding using public transit – especially for a person that could choose to drive their car or use transit or some other form of mobility – is how do I pay my fare? We want to take that question completely out of the equation for our riders, existing loyal riders,” Forbes said.
How will Palm Tran's Paradise Pass work?
Riders will simply tap their smart card on the fare box, or scan their app, to pay. A process called fare capping will guarantee a rider the lowest possible fare. Should a rider scan their Paradise Pass for three single trips at $2 per ride, they will instead pay $5, which is the cost of a single-day pass.
If a rider with a Paradise Pass account loses their smart card, Palm Tran can transfer the remaining balance to a new smart card, which costs $2 to replace.
The Paradise Pass marks a new era for Palm Tran, which has not upgraded its fare system in 14 years.
Palm Tran for a period of time will continue to accept outgoing Quik Passes as well as cash, but change or credit will not be issued. Pennies and 50 cent pieces will not be accepted.
Riders can learn more by visiting myparadisepass.com or calling 561-841-4BUS.
Hannah Morse is a reporter covering Palm Beach County. She can be reached at hmorse@pbpost.com or 561-820-4833. Follow her on Twitter at @mannahhorse.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Tran to roll out new Paradise Pass payment option on Sunday
