Card Questions Fare Capping Reduced Fare Pass and Product PAL Paratransit
Card Questions
How does my MetGo card work?
MetGo is an account based fare payment system. Similar to E-ZPass®, your funds and pass products are stored in an account, and your MetGo card is simply an ID that links to your account. When you tap your card on a farebox or faregate, the system checks whether you have funds or a valid pass in your account. If you have a stored value balance, the system will automatically deduct the cost of one ride. If you have a valid pass, the system will accept the tap and allow you to board the bus, or pass through the fare gate.
How much does it cost to get a MetGo card?
A new MetGo card will cost $2.00. Purchasing a new MetGo card also requires adding a minimum balance of $5.00 of stored value.
What info do I need to get a MetGo card?
MetGo cards may be purchased at our Ticket Vending Machines, Customer Service Center, or select retailers throughout our service area. No additional information is needed to purchase or use a MetGo card. It is strongly recommended that new MetGo cards be registered online, so you can access balance protection, but registration is not required to use the card.
How long is my MetGo card valid for?
MetGo cards can last years between replacements. It is recommended that a new replacement card be purchased every 5 – 7 years, or if it is damaged or stops working. If you are using a reduced fare or paratransit account, the length of your eligibility in that program requires periodic recertification as per NFTA-Metro policies.
What info will be on my MetGo card?
Full fare MetGo cards display no personal information. The account number and chip ID are printed on the back of each card to assist with registration or customer service inquiries. If you have a personalized Reduced Fare or paratransit ID, your photo will be on the card along with information necessary for the type of entitlement assigned to the card.
Can I use my MetGo card on the Rail?
MetGo cards are valid on fixed route bus, Metro Rail, and Paratransit. Certain fare types may not be allowed on certain services, depending on type of service and MetGo account. For example, monthly passes in regular MetGo accounts are not valid on paratransit.
Where can I load my MetGo card?
MetGo cards can be reloaded online, on the MetGo mobile app, at the NFTA-Metro customer service center, any NFTA-Metro Ticket Vending Machine, or select retailers throughout our service area.
What is the minimum and maximum value I can store on my MetGo card?
The balance on a MetGo account can range between $0.00 and $200.00. The minimum addition is $5.00 and the maximum at one time is up to $200.00, as long as the total balance of the account does not exceed $200.00 after the addition.
How do I check the balance on my MetGo card?
The balance can be checked online at the MetGo website, the MetGo mobile app, any Ticket Vending Machine, or in person at, or by calling the Metro customer service center at (716) 855-7211, TTY/relay 711 or (800) 662-1220. The balance cannot be checked on a bus or paratransit vehicle, or at a retailer.
Who do I contact if I have issues with my MetGo card?
Call NFTA-Metro Customer Care at (716) 855-7211, TTY/relay 711 or (800) 662-1220
How will I know if I have enough balance on my MetGo card for my next trip?
By checking your balance at the previous stated locations. You must have a positive balance in your account to board the next vehicle.
How will Rail Ticket Checkers know if I tapped my MetGo card?
If you are inside the paid area of Metro Rail, it is assumed that a valid pass was tapped to enter. If you entered in the Free Fare Zone downtown, a valid pass must be tapped to exit underground. If you do not have a valid pass to exit underground, Ticket Vending Machines are conveniently located near the fare gates, to purchase a ticket or MetGo card, in order to pay for the ride and exit the station.
What if I lose my MetGo card?
If your MetGo card was registered online, you must immediately go online and block the card through your account. You can also call our customer service center and we can block the lost card for you. You can then purchase a new MetGo card, register it on your online account, and resume your riding activities. Any additional taps recorded on the card before it was blocked will be charged to the account. If you have not registered the lost card, you cannot recover the account.
Can someone else use my MetGo card if lost/stolen?
If your card was registered, it can still be used until you block the card. Once the card is blocked, it will stop working. A new card can be registered to your account, and your balance will be protected. Unregistered cards cannot be blocked, and anyone who has the card can use it until the funds or products on it are expired.
What are the locations and hours of operations of MetGo uploading sites?
The MetGo public web site and mobile app are available 24 hours a day. Ticket Vending Machines are available whenever the sites they are located in are open. Metro Customer Service and retailers are open during normal business hours for those locations.
How do I dispute a MetGo transaction?
Call NFTA-Metro Customer Care at (716) 855-7211, TTY/relay 711 or (800) 662-1220
How to terminate service if I no longer need use of my MetGo card?
You can go into your account online and block all cards, and remove all payment methods. You can still log in and register a new card if needed in the future. You can also call Metro Customer Service and Metro can close the account for you. You will no longer be able to log in to that account once closed. Note that there are no refunds for unused products or stored value when accounts are closed.
What if the farebox is out of order?
MetGo fareboxes have independent devices that can be used. If the MetGo card reader is not working cash can still be accepted, or a barcode can be read from a mobile device. If the farebox is completely out of order, then no fares can be charged.
What if my card can’t be read on the farebox due to it being damaged?
If your card can’t be validated by the farebox, another payment type will be required. You can switch your active device to the MetGo mobile app, or pay cash. The mobile app will display a barcode on your mobile device that can be read by the farebox if your card is not working. You should block and replace the damaged card as soon as possible so that you can resume using your MetGo account.
What if I buy a MetGo card, and it just doesn’t work even though there’s no visible damage?
NFTA-Metro will replace defective cards at no cost for up to one year after purchase. Visit the Metro Customer Service Center and we can block the malfunctioning card and replace it on your registered account for you.
Can my MetGo card be used by more than one person on a single trip?
No. Each customer must have their own MetGo card and account. A MetGo card has a “passback” feature that will not allow the same card to be used more than once on the same vehicle or faregate.
Can NFTA shut off my card if lost/stolen?
The NFTA-Metro customer service center can block a lost or stolen card only if it is registered. You can visit the customer service center or call to request a card to be blocked for you.
What if my MetGo card runs out of funds midway through my trip?
When using stored value, the account is deducted up to the daily maximum throughout the day. If your balance runs out before you reach the daily maximum and you need more rides, you must add value to the account online, with the mobile app, or at a Ticket Vending Machine, Metro Customer Service Center, or retailer. Otherwise, you will have to pay cash for additional rides until your MetGo balance is restored.
Can I use cash on the Bus/Rail?
Cash is always valid on the bus, rail, and paratransit. On Metro Rail, cash is used to purchase a ticket at the Ticket Vending Machine, and the ticket will provide access to the faregates.
Can I have more than one MetGo card registered to my account?
It is possible to have more than one MetGo card registered to an account, but only one card (or mobile device) can be the “active device” at any one time. It is not allowed for multiple MetGo cards or mobile devices to access the same account simultaneously. You can only “switch” the active device once per day.
Can I get a refund on unused money on my MetGo?
Funds in MetGo accounts can be added with transit benefits cards or other pre-tax funds. It is not possible for NFTA-Metro to know whether benefit or pre-tax funds were used to fund an account. Therefore, once deposited, funds in MetGo accounts can only be used for transit, and no refunds can be made.
Can I punch a hole in my MetGo card to use with a lanyard?
No. MetGo cards are similar to credit and debit cards, containing an internal chip and antenna
Can I link my credit or debit card to my MetGo cards for automatic reloads?
When I load value to my MetGo account, can I board a bus or train immediately?
You should allow for up to fifteen minutes for value to be available for your use although in general your account will be updated almost immediately.
Where can I review a record of my travel and fare payment?
You can review your account using the MetGo app or at www.metgo.nfta.com
This information will be easier to access if you have registered your account.
Fare Capping
Will MetGo offer monthly fare capping, as well as daily?
MetGo offers daily, calendar week, and calendar month capping.
How does daily capping work?
You must use stored value in your MetGo account. MetGo will only charge you for the rides you take, up to a maximum of $5.00 in one day. After that, your rides will be free the rest of the day.
How does weekly capping work?
You must use stored value in your MetGo account. Starting on Monday each week, MetGo calculates the total you have been charged within the same calendar week. After you reach a total of $25.00, the rest of your rides will be free the rest of the week, ending on Sunday night. The weekly cap will reset and start over every Monday.
How does monthly capping work?
You must use stored value in your MetGo account. Starting on the first of every month, MetGo calculates the total you have been charged within the same calendar month. After you reach a total of $75.00, the rest of your rides will be free the rest of the month, ending at the end of the last day of the month. The monthly cap will reset and start over on the first of every month.
If MetGo has daily, weekly, and monthly capping, how do those work all at the same time?
MetGo has a running counter for each of the three levels. You will be charged a maximum of $5.00 each day. As you continue riding in the same week, MetGo will stop charging you when you reach $25.00. Once you reach enough rides to equal $75.00 in one calendar month, the rest of your rides will be free for the rest of that month.
If I don’t reach my cap during a week or month, can my money spent so far be applied to the following week or month?
No. Capping resets and starts over each time the next capping period begins.
Does MetGo offer yearly capping?
Yearly capping is not supported at this time.
I’m a reduced fare rider – how will capping work for me?
You must use stored value in your reduced fare MetGo account. The system will automatically charge you the correct reduced fare for each ride and stop at the reduced fare caps that apply to your reduced fare account.
Does fare capping work even if I ride the bus for one ride and then Metro Rail for the next?
Fare capping works on fixed route bus and rail together – all rides on fixed routes will count toward the caps.
Does fare capping work with the MetGo mobile app?
Yes. As long as you use stored value from your MetGo account, the caps will be applied.
Can I get fare capping on Paratransit?
No. If you use stored value from a qualified paratransit account, the reduced 1-way fare is already applied to all your rides. No additional reductions are supported.
I’m a full fare rider, riding on a PAL van as a companion to my PAL-qualified customer. My MetGo account was charged $4.00 for the ride on the PAL van. Does the charge on the PAL van count toward my fare capping?
No. PAL is a separate service and all rides for companions are $4.00, which does not count toward the fixed-route caps.
Does fare capping work with Token Transit?
Fare capping does not apply to outside mobile apps. You must use a MetGo account with stored value to activate fare capping.
Reduced Fare Questions
What info do I need to get a reduced fare MetGo card?
You must be at least 65 years old, have a disability, or be part of the Community Care program through Erie or Niagara County to receive the NFTA-Metro Reduced-Fare card. The fee for the card is $2. The Reduced-Fare card may be used on any NFTA regular route service. It is not valid on PAL service.
How to obtain a card if you are disabled.
The Federal Transit Administration defines “persons with disabilities” for purposes of the Reduced-Fare program. Metro’s Reduced-Fare Program for Persons with Disabilities provides reduced-fare transportation for persons with the following disabilities:
- receiving Medicare benefits for any reason
- serious mental illness (SMI) and receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
- blindness
- hearing impairment
- ambulatory disability
- loss of both hands
- intellectual disability and/or other organic mental capacity impairment
Do I need to show the operator proof of eligibility when using the MetGo card?
If you have a photo ID MetGo card, you must present the bus operator or rail ambassador your photo ID to prove eligibility. If you are using the MetGo mobile app, you must still present the photo ID card as well.
Can I use different proof of eligibility, such as a County Complimentary Card, or Medicare Insurance Card, to qualify for a reduced fare on Metro Bus or Metro Rail?
No. Your reduced fare is programmed into your personalized MetGo account when you are qualified for reduced fares, and only that MetGo card can be used to pay a reduced fare.
How can I pay a reduced cash fare on the bus if I don’t use MetGo stored value?
If you tap a reduced fare MetGo ID card on the farebox, and it has no stored value or pass product in the account, the farebox will automatically accept the reduced cash fare for that rider.
How can I purchase a reduced fare MetGo card for a family member?
Reduced fare and paratransit cards can only be purchased for the qualified reduced fare customer. They must have a photo taken of themselves and qualify for the type of card being requested.
Pass and Product Questions
What types of passes and products are available with the MetGo system?
Regular MetGo Card: 7-day pass product & 31-day pass product. They will be activated on first use.
Can I purchase a day pass, weekly or monthly pass with my MetGo card?
If you have a MetGo card, the value of a day pass is automatically capped when using stored value. If you wish a weekly or monthly pass, you can add these to your MetGo account online, on the mobile app, at a Ticket Vending Machine, or at the Metro Customer Service Center. Retailers do not sell MetGo passes, but you can reload stored value onto your account at a retailer, and then use the stored value to purchase a pass in your MetGo account. Each MetGo card can only be used to add products to the account associated with that individual card.
What if I have both a stored value balance and a valid pass in my MetGo account?
Passes are always checked before stored value. Therefore, if you have both, the pass will be validated first, and the stored value balance will remain untouched until the pass product has expired.
Are there any transfers?
NFTA-Metro eliminated transfers in 2010. The MetGo system offers fare capping, so if you’re paying with stored value in your MetGo account, the maximum daily charge will be $5.00 ($2.50 for reduced fare cards), no matter how many vehicles you board. You can also purchase a day pass at Ticket Vending Machines or the Metro Customer Service Center. Note that stored value rides on paratransit do not count toward a daily maximum and will be charged the appropriate amount for each boarding.
PAL Paratransit
Can I continue to use my old PAL ID card?
All Paratransit customers must use the MetGo PAL ID card. The MetGo ID is needed to confirm your eligibility for PAL.
Can I continue to use my PAL Pass?
Yes. You can use the remaining rides on your punch cards. Once finished you must start using the MetGo Pal card.
Using your card.
You can begin using your MetGo PAL card to pay your fare immediately after you load money into your account. On PAL vans, just tap your card on the card reader every time you board. On Metro buses, tap your card on the farebox card reader and show the card to the operator. When using Metro Rail, tap your card at fare gates. You will need to tap out as well.
Who do I contact if I have issues with my MetGo PAL card?
Call NFTA-Metro Customer Care at (716) 855-7211, TTY/relay 711 or (800) 662-1220
Do I have to buy 10 or 20 rides to get the discounted rate?
Not with MetGo. When you use stored value in your MetGo PAL account, it will automatically charge the discounted rate every time. However, Token Transit will continue to require purchasing 10 or 20 rides at a time to get the discount.
There is no expiration date on my card, how do I know when my eligibility expires?
The expiration date is displayed on the MetGo website, PAL Direct website, ticket vending machines, point-of-sale terminals at the customer service center, or by calling Metro Customer Care.
Can I use my MetGo card to pay the fare for someone else?
No. MetGo PAL ID cards are personalized for each customer, and only the customer whose name and photo appear on the card may use it.
If I have extra value in my MetGo PAL account, can I use it to pay for my companion also?
No. The MetGo card is for the qualified rider and charges their account for a PAL fare. Companions may pay cash or can use stored value from their own regular or reduced fare MetGo card if they have one. Companions are always charged full fare to ride on PAL vans.
How do I add funds to my card if I don’t have a checking account or credit card?
Funds can be added in cash at our customer service center, any ticket vending machine, or at select retailers throughout our service area.
If I no longer need Paratransit what happens to the balance in my account?
If you are no longer eligible for Paratransit, you will have to get a new MetGo card that matches your new status – either full fare or reduced fare. NFTA-Metro will have to assist in transferring any remaining balance to the new card.
Can I update the photo on my card?
A replacement card can be issued with a new picture. Your old card must be blocked, and a new card printed with a new picture. A replacement card costs $2.
I have a regular MetGo account, now I have Paratransit, can I transfer the funds?
If your entitlement changes, NFTA-Metro will assist in transferring funds from a different card type. PAL accounts can only use stored value, so any passes in the previous account will not be transferred to a Paratransit account.
Does Token Transit work with my MetGo card?
Yes. First, activate your Token Transit ticket on your mobile device. Token Transit will display a QR code – on the bus, hold this QR code to the barcode reader on the farebox and wait for the validation signal. Then, show your MetGo PAL ID to the operator to confirm you are eligible for a PAL ride. On Metro Rail, hold this QR code to the barcode reader on the fare gate, and wait for the validation tone and the gate to open. MetGo stored value accounts and Token Transit are separate companies, it is not possible to combine or transfer funds between the two systems.
When I recertify for Paratransit do I need a new card?
If your travel entitlement does not change, you do not need a new card. Your new expiration date will be stored in your account, and you can continue using the same MetGo PAL ID as soon as the account is updated.
My trip history is on my account, how are you using this information?
Please see our privacy policy at
nfta.com.