Cedar Rapids Transit, which operates the public bus service throughout the city, will resume fare collection with updated fares on Monday, Sept. 26.
According to a news release sent by the City of Cedar Rapids, full fare is priced at $1 for adults, students, and non-qualifying passengers of the free-fare groups (more information on free fares below). This price of $1, down from the previous cost of $1.50, can be paid on the bus with exact cash (coins or bills). The driver does not give change and does not take credit/debit cards, but riders may use credit/debit cards to purchase 10-ride tickets and passes at the Ground Transportation Center.
Passengers may ride the bus using a bus pass, a participating school ID, exact cash, a Free Fare ID Card, or a blue ticket. More information is available below, as well as at CityofCR.com/Transit and by calling 319-286-5573.
Bus passes are available for purchase at the rate of $30 for 31-Day/Monthly Passes; $10 for 10-Ride Passes; and $2 for Day Passes.
According to the release, free fare is available through the Sponsored Student Fare Program; for seniors with proof of age or Free Fare ID Card; for passengers with disabilities with Free Fare ID Card or ADA Paratransit Card; for Medicare Passengers with Medicare Card or Free Fare ID Card; for income-based passengers with Free Fare ID Card; and for children ages 12 and under.
All Free Fare ID Cards must be updated by Jan. 1, 2023, to ride for free. To update an ID Card, riders are asked to bring all required documents and a photo ID to the Ground Transportation Center, located at 450 1st St. SE, during open hours. The center is open for ID printing on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. For questions about free fares and ID Cards, as well as required documentation, visit CityofCR.com/Transit or call 319-286-5573.
Cedar Rapids Transit partners with the Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD), Coe College, and Kirkwood Community College to offer student bus rides at no cost on all fixed-route buses. Students of these schools must show their student ID and are then eligible to ride for free, all year long, including summers. CRCSD elementary and middle school students are not required to show ID, according to the release.
The City also partners with Horizons Neighborhood Transportation Service (NTS) to provide after-hours, curb-to-curb transportation for those with critical employment transportation needs, and with Linn County LIFTS to provide ADA paratransit service. To schedule a ride with Horizons NTS, call 319-363-1321 at least 24 hours in advance. To schedule a ride with LIFTS, call 319-892-5170 at least 24 hours in advance.
