Beginning Wednesday, November 6, "Go RTS Fares" App Will Be Required To Ride Campus Connector and RTS Route 150
Why do I need the app?
Starting Wednesday, November 6, UF Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) and the Gainesville Regional Transit System (RTS) will launch a pilot program to test the GoRTS Fares app as a potential method for bus and shuttle boarding access. If successful, this app could streamline future boarding processes, improve ridership data accuracy, and provide a one-stop solution for navigating the entire UF and Gainesville transit system.
What do I do to activate my unique code for boarding access?
- UF students, faculty, and staff who ride either Campus Connector or RTS Route 150 must download the GoRTS Fares app.
- After downloading the app, create a free account with your UF email address.
- Once you’ve created your account, click on the Tickets screen and you’ll see a UF Fall semester pass listed there. Just tap that pass and then tap the “Use Pass” button that pops up.
- After completing the “Use Pass” process, reload the Tickets screen and click on your pass again – it should pop up a moving UF logo. Tap on it a second time to display your unique code (the code is also displayed automatically on the Home screen of the app).
- That’s it – you’re all set! Now just scan your unique code from either the Home or Tickets screen when boarding the shuttles.
Can I tap my phone on the validator for boarding access instead of scanning?
If you have an Android phone and want to use the tap function for boarding access instead of scanning your code underneath the validator, you can do that automatically after activating your ticket. Just follow the steps above for account creation and ticket activation, open your GoRTS Fares app when the bus arrives, and tap your phone on the front of the validator when boarding.
If you have an iPhone and want to tap instead of scanning, you’ll need to create your account and activate your ticket first, and then follow the steps using the tutorial below to enable the GoRTS Fares tap feature:
Who is affected and which routes are included?
The pilot program will only apply to the UF-operated Campus Connector shuttles and to RTS Route 150 (UF-Haile Plantation). Students and staff who regularly use these services must download the GoRTS Fares app by Wednesday, November 6 in order be able to board during the pilot program.
No other routes are included in the pilot program, so students and staff who don’t ride the Campus Connector shuttles or RTS Route 150 can continue boarding other routes with their Gator 1 cards like normal.
The GoRTS Fares app will also offer live tracking for both RTS and Campus Connector shuttles, eliminating the need for separate apps.
How the app works:
- UF students, faculty, and staff who ride either Campus Connector or RTS Route 150 must download the GoRTS Fares app and create a free account using their UF email address.
- Starting November 6, UF accounts will receive a unique boarding code that allows users to tap (Android) or scan (iPhone) their phone on an electronic validator located just inside the vehicle entrance to board.
⚠️ Important: Using non-UF emails (e.g., Gmail, Hotmail) will prevent you from receiving the unique UF boarding code needed to access the shuttles.
How To Tap Or Scan When Boarding
Click on any image for a larger view
Validators are installed to the right of the shuttle entrance. |
Both iPhones and Android phones can use scanning as the primary validation method; after creating your GoRTS Fares account using a UF email and activating your ticket as shown above, go to the Home screen and hold the screen under the validator (between 3-6 inches below the bottom) to scan your code for boarding. A red dot will be projected from the bottom of the validator, use that to line up your code with the scanner! |
Android phones can also automatically use NFC to tap on the front of the validator for boarding access. If you have an iPhone and want to tap instead of scanning, use the tutorial below to enable the tap feature for GoRTS Fares: |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Where can I download GoRTS Fares?
A: The iPhone/iOS version is available here, and the Android version is available here.
Q: How do I ensure I receive my unique boarding code?
A: Simply download GoRTS Fares and create an account using your UF email address. Codes will be assigned automatically on November 6.
Q: Where can I find my boarding code in the app and how do I scan it?
A: The code will appear on the Home or Tickets screen. Open the app when you’re ready to board the shuttle, and you can use either screen to scan your code by holding your phone under the bottom of the validator with the screen facing upwards.
Q: Can I use my phone’s NFC function to tap instead of scanning the code?
A: If you have an Android phone, you can simply tap the phone against the validator to board instead of scanning.
However, if you have an iPhone, you will need to use the tutorial below to enable the tap feature for GoRTS Fares:
iPhone Tap Enable Tutorial
Q: I downloaded GoRTS Fares but I never got a code or can’t get my code to work – what do I do?
A: If you have problems with your unique boarding code, please email TAPS at parking@ufl.edu.
Q: Will I be denied service if I don’t have the app?
A: At the beginning of the pilot program, we will not deny service in order to give passengers time to download the app. However, we encourage everyone to participate fully in the pilot so that we can evaluate the app’s effectiveness.
Q: What is Campus Connector?
A: Campus Connector is a free on-campus shuttle service operated by UF TAPS which is available to all students, faculty and staff. You can find more information on the service here.
Q: How long will the pilot program last?
A: We currently anticipate that the pilot program will end after the Fall 2024 semester.
