Lee County Transit is preparing to transition riders into using an electronic farebox system.
Starting Thursday Aug. 27, LeeTran staff will be exchanging old fare passes for contactless, reloadable fare cards called TropiCards and limited use passes to pay transit fares.
The director of LeeTran Robert Codie said the new fast farebox system is “a well-needed, overdue, new technology.”
“It creates a faster process as opposed to someone digging in their pockets, trying to look for money or exact change to load into that farebox when they can just tap their card and go,” Codie said.
The TropiCards can be purchased and reloaded on machines located at LeeTran transfer locations.
The fast farebox will debut Sept. 8 and comes with a trial period during which TropiCards and passes will only be available for purchase using cash.
Codie said by November, patrons will be able to reload cards with a LeeTran mobile application.
“Not everyone will have to have a card or a ticket. They can actually utilize a QR code to board the bus and it will automatically deduct the fare once they board as well as load a transfer,” Codie said.
To help LeeTransit riders become familiar with the new fare system, LeeTran employees will be exchanging old fare passes to the new passes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at two locations:
- Rosa Parks Station, 2250 Widman Way, Fort Myers.
- LeeTran headquarters, 3401 Metro Parkway, Fort Myers.
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