PRONTO

PRONTO PRONTO

Hello PRONTO – The New Way to Pay for Transit

New PRONTO transit fare system launches September 1!

Starting September 1, transit riders can use the new regional fare system, PRONTO. With PRONTO, simply add value to your account and tap your PRONTO card or scan your mobile app every time you ride. Just add value and go!

PRONTO will replace the Compass Card and Cloud systems. All NCTD riders need to switch from Compass to PRONTO in September 2021. Compass will be discontinued on October 1, 2021.

 

 

What’s New with PRONTO:

  • One-way fares on PRONTO will be valid for unlimited transfers within two hours of activation.
  • Get real-time account management online (no more waiting up to 48 hours for passes to be available)
  • Earn-as-you-go to get the best fare, every time! Load money into your PRONTO account or onto your card, then scan or tap with each trip you make to earn a Day or Monthly Pass as you ride. (COASTER excluded – will still require upfront payment for Day and Monthly Passes.)

 

SPRINTER/BREEZE Monthly Pass NOW ON SALE

The SPRINTER/BREEZE Monthly Pass is $59 for adults and $19 for youth or those qualifying for senior, disabled or Medicare discounted fares.

This Monthly Pass gives customers unlimited rides and transfers on the SPRINTER rail and BREEZE bus services all month (not valid on COASTER trains or MTS transit services).

How to Use PRONTO

Benefits for Riders

Ride FREE in September on SPRINTER, BREEZE, and FLEX

BREEZE, SPRINTER and FLEX riders with an activated PRONTO card or a PRONTO virtual card in their PRONTO mobile app ride free all September.* Get and activate a PRONTO card or download the PRONTO mobile app to take advantage of free rides during the month of September.

*NOTE: COASTER and LIFT fares are not included in September free fares promotion. For COASTER and LIFT fares, please visit GoNCTD.com/fares.

Always Get the Best Fare

With PRONTO’s pay-as-you-go capabilities, riders will always earn the best fare! *

Fares on BREEZE, SPRINTER and FELX are capped at Day and Monthly Pass amounts, so you’ll always get the best fare no matter how much you ride throughout San Diego County. *

Ride all day, you’ll never pay more than a Day Pass. Keep riding all month, and you’ll never pay more than a Monthly Pass!

Adult Fares One-way Fare Daily Cap Monthly Cap
Regional 

SPRINTER, BREEZE, MTS Bus, MTS Trolley, MTS Rapid

 $2.50 $6.00 $72.00
Premium Regional

SPRINTER, BREEZE, FLEX (except 372), MTS Bus, MTS Trolley, MTS Rapid, MTS Rapid Express

 $5.00 $12.00 $100.00

 

Senior, Disabled and Medicare (SDM) and Youth Fares One-way Fare Daily Cap Monthly Cap
Regional 

SPRINTER, BREEZE, MTS Bus, MTS Trolley, MTS Rapid

 $1.25 $3.00 $23.00
Premium Regional

SPRINTER, BREEZE, FLEX (except 372), MTS Bus, MTS Trolley, MTS Rapid, MTS Rapid Express

 $2.50 $6.00 $32.00

 

*NOTE: COASTER and LIFT fares are not capped and are not included in September free fares promotion. For COASTER and LIFT fares, please visit GoNCTD.com/fares.

Free Transfers with PRONTO

With PRONTO, one-way fares offer unlimited transfers within two hours. Riders using a PRONTO card or PRONTO virtual card can transfer free from Regional to Regional, Premium Regional to Regional, or Rural to Regional within two hours of paying a one-way fare.

A single transfer is allowed from COASTER to SPRINTER or BREEZE (not MTS service) within two hours of paying a one-way COASTER fare.

Tap your card or scan the QR code in your mobile app every time you ride, and you will not be charged more than once within two hours.

Transfers are not allowed for MTS Access and NCTD LIFT services. BREEZE one-way cash fares and SPRINTER one-way paper tickets are not eligible for transfers.

Get a Free PRONTO Card

NCTD is offering FREE PRONTO cards ($2 value) in September to those who set up a PRONTO account.

Here’s how to get a FREE card:

  • Stop by a PRONTO special event; see schedule below
  • Visit an NCTD Customer Service Center
  • Download the PRONTO mobile app to set up a virtual card
Date Time Type Location
19-Aug 2:00pm – 5:00pm PopUp Escondido Transit Center
20-Aug 7:30am – 9:30am PopUp Oceanside Transit Center
23-Aug 11:00am – 1:00pm PopUp Palomar College
24-Aug 11:00am – 1:00pm PopUp Palomar College
25-Aug 3:30pm – 6:30pm PopUp Oceanside Transit Center
26-Aug 5:00pm – end Community Oceanside Sunset Market
28-Aug 7:33am – 9:26am Ride Along Riding SPRINTER
30-Aug 7:03am – 8:56am Ride Along Riding SPRINTER
31-Aug 11:30am – 1:00pm Community CSUSM 
31-Aug 3:00pm – 7:00pm Community San Marcos Farmers Market
1-Sep 7:00am – 6:00pm PopUp Oceanside Transit Center
1-Sep 7:00am – 6:00pm PopUp Vista Transit Center
1-Sep 7:00am – 6:00pm PopUp Escondido Transit Center
2-Sep 6:03am  – 7:56am Ride along Riding SPRINTER
2-Sep 5:03pm – 6:56pm Ride along Riding SPRINTER
2-Sep 9:30am – 11:30am Community CSUSM
7-Sep 3:30pm – 6:30pm PopUp Escondido Transit Center
8-Sep 10:00am – 12:00pm Community CSUSM
8-Sep 6:03am – 7:56am Ride Along SPRINTER Ride Along
8-Sep 5:33pm – 7:26pm Ride Along SPRINTER Ride Along
9-Sep 11:00am – 2:00pm PopUp Oceanside Transit Center
9-Sep 6:33am – 8:47am Ride Along COASTER 636/635
9-Sep 5:11pm – 7:30pm Ride Along COASTER 660/663
10-Sep 7:40am – 10:23am Ride Along COASTER 640/639
13-Sep 6:30am – 9:30am PopUp Oceanside Transit Center
13-Sep 11:00am – 2:00pm PopUp Vista Transit Center
14-Sep 6:30am – 9:30am PopUp Escondido Transit Center
18-Sep 9:00am – 5:00pm Community Oceanside Harbor Days
19-Sep 9:00am – 5:00pm Community Oceanside Harbor Days
20-Sep 2:00pm – 5:00pm PopUp Palomar Bus

 

How to Use PRONTO

Getting Started With PRONTO
  • Get your PRONTO card
    • Use a PRONTO ticket machine
    • Stop by a PRONTO special event
    • Visit an NCTD Customer Service Center
    • Go to a participating retail outlet (for purchase)
    • Call the PRONTO Support Team at 619-595-5636
    • Download the PRONTO mobile app to set up a virtual card
  • Set up your account
    • Go to RidePronto.com
    • Download the PRONTO mobile app
    • Visit NCTD Customer Service Center, or
    • Call the PRONTO Support Team at 619-595-5636
  • Link your PRONTO card to your account
    • Sign into your PRONTO on-line account or mobile app
      • Go to ‘Manage’
      • Tap ‘+’ and select ‘Link Existing Card’
      • Input Card# and PIN# from back of card
    • Don’t have a PRONTO card? Create a virtual card in the PRONTO mobile app
  • Load Value
    • Stop at a PRONTO ticket machine
    • Open PRONTO online account or mobile app
    • Go to a participating retail outlet
    • Visit NCTD Customer Service, or
    • Call the PRONTO Support Team at 619-595-5636
  • Tap or Scan the PRONTO validator to Ride
    • Tap your PRONTO card
    • Scan the QR from the PRONTO mobile app
Load Value

With PRONTO, simply add value to your account and tap your PRONTO card or scan the virtual card QR code in your mobile app every time you ride.

There are several ways to add value to your PRONTO card:

  • Stop at a PRONTO ticket machine
  • Open PRONTO online account or mobile app
  • Go to a participating retail outlet
  • Visit NCTD Customer Service, or
  • Call the PRONTO Support Team at 619-595-5636

Paying with Cash

One-way fares can be paid purchased on BREEZE buses with cash (exact change required).Paying cash for one-way fares on a BREEZE bus does not allow for free transfers and does not count towards the daily or monthly fare cap.

Beginning September 1:

  • BREEZE buses will only accept cash for one-way fares.
  • Cash cannot be used to add value to PRONTO onboard BREEZE buses.
  • Paper day passes will no longer be sold onboard BREEZE buses.

Loading PRONTO with Cash

You can load value to your PRONTO card with cash at PRONTO ticket machines, NCTD Customer Service Centers, or select retail outlets. Visit RidePRONTO.com to see a list of participating retail outlets.

Passes/value stored on PRONTO physical cards and virtual cards are kept separate, so make sure to load your pass/value on the one you use.

Monthly Passes

PRONTO Monthly passes are based on the calendar month and are only valid through the last day of the month.

Compass Day and Monthly passes will not transfer to a PRONTO account.

Passes/value stored on PRONTO physical cards and virtual cards are kept separate, so make sure to load your pass/value on the one you use.

Reduced Fare – Senior, Disabled, Medicare (SDM) and Youth Fares

Those eligible to receive reduced fares need to have their PRONTO account designated for reduced fares to receive the discount. If you qualify for a reduced fare, visit an NCTD Customer Service Center or call the PRONTO Support Team at 619-595-5636 to get your PRONTO Card or account switched to a reduced fare category. Please have proof of eligibility ready.

Those eligible for reduced fares may get a reduced fare PRONTO card that includes a photo ID in person at the Oceanside or Escondido Transit Centers, or the MTS Transit Store.

Riders traveling with a reduced fare must carry proof of eligibility at all times.

Going from COMPASS to PRONTO: IMPORTANT DATES

PRONTO will launch September 1, 2021, with Compass products no longer accepted on board after September 30, 2021. Here are key dates to remember:

Date Availability
8/17/21
  • PRONTO Cards available
9/1/21
  • PRONTO launches!
  • Free Rides with PRONTO begins
  • PRONTO mobile app available for download
9/15/21
  • Compass Cash stored value users can begin requesting balance transfer*
9/30/21
  • Last day to use Compass products

 

*IMPORTANT NOTE: Partial refunds will not be offered for riders with 30-Day Passes that run in to September. Unused Compass Card and Cloud products (Day and 30-Day or Monthly Passes) will not transfer to PRONTO. Riders should plan to use all of their remaining Compass fares in advance of the transition to PRONTO.   Riders can transfer unused Compass Cash to their PRONTO card starting September 15, 2021 by calling the PRONTO Support Team at 619-595-5636.

COASTER Riders

Are you a COASTER rider? Here are important things to know about PRONTO:

  • Tap ON and Tap OFF to only pay for the zones you travel. Be sure to tap the PRONTO platform validator before you board and tap again when you arrive. Failure to tap off will charge the 3-Zone fare. Fares are not refundable.
  • Buy COASTER Monthly Pass through PRONTO. Monthly passes are valid through the last day of the calendar month.
  • Monthly Passes stored on PRONTO physical cards and virtual cards are kept separate, so make sure to load your pass on the one you use.
  • Purchase your Day and Monthly passes before you ride.
  • Fares are required at all times to ride COASTER. Free promotional fares in September do not apply to COASTER.
  • Fare capping does not apply to COASTER.

Need More Help?

If you need more help with PRONTO, call the PRONTO Support Team at 619-595-5636. You can also visit an NCTD Customer Service Center.

For more information about how PRONTO works on MTS buses and Trolley, visit RidePRONTO.com.