Go-To Card User's Guide
It’s your go-to tool for hassle-free travel
Welcome to a faster, easier way to pay fares! The
Go-To Card will revolutionize your ride with speed
and convenience.
The Go-To Card is a durable plastic card that tracks value on a microchip. It works just like
a Stored Value Card but you can recharge your Go-To Card again and again. Plus, it’s valid for rides on buses
and trains.
You can store up to two 31-Day Passes and up to $200 in stored value, and you receive a $1 bonus for every $10 you add to your card. When the value gets low, you can add value with a credit card online or at any Metro Transit store or rail station ticket machine.
For extra safety, the Go-To Card offers balance protection against loss, theft or damage (free registration is required).
The best part—it’s FAST. Instead of inserting a card into a farebox, just touch the card to the Go-To circle on the reader—your fare is deducted in a fraction of a second.
Thanks for joining the fare revolution!
Types of Go-To Cards
How to get started
Using your Go-To Card on the bus
Using your Go-To Card on a train
Indicator lights on the reader and what they mean
Transfers
How to check your card’s value/transfer expiration
Traveling with others
Adding value
Reporting lost, stolen or damaged cards
Changing personal information
Caring for your Go-To Card
Coming soon – more features
Frequently asked questions
Contact us
Which Go-To Card is right for you?
For added convenience, Go-To Cards are available in three types: Adult, Reduced Fare and Mobility.
Adult cards are programmed to deduct the full adult fare in effect at the time you board.
Reduced fare cards automatically deduct the correct fare for youth (ages 6-12) and seniors (age 65+) during non-rush hours. Note: please be prepared to show ID to prove eligibility for reduced fares.
Mobility cards automatically deduct the fare for certified customers with disabilities. Proper ID must be shown if requested.
In addition to these cards, Go-To Cards are also available through select employers and schools. Check to see if your company offers the Metropass program. University of Minnesota students are eligible for the U-Pass program. Students at colleges and trade schools: Check with your school to see if it offers the Go-To College Pass.
How to get started
1 - Record your card’s serial number and keep it in a safe place. This is extremely important! You will need your serial number to report any problems you encounter and to verify ownership if it is lost or stolen.
2- If you haven’t already done so, register your card. Registering your card protects its value against theft or loss. For a $5 fee, we will replace your card, complete with the value that was on your original card when you notified us of the loss.
Registration is FREE, easy and well worth the few extra seconds it takes. Registration forms are available at Metro Transit stores or register online.
3 - Grab your Go-To Card and go!
Use your Go-To Card on the bus
Every Twin Cities bus has a blue Go-To Card reader to the right of the farebox as you board. To pay your fare, touch your card to the Go-To circle.
Go-To Cards also may be used on suburban transit systems, Metropolitan Council Regional Routes, Northstar Commuter Coach and Ramsey Star Express buses.
Use your Go-To Card on the train
There is a Go-To Card reader located next to ticket machines at each rail station. To pay your fare, simply touch your card to the Go-To circle on the card reader before you board the train.
Your fare will automatically be deducted. Note: The buttons on the reader are for advanced functions. You don’t need to touch the buttons to deduct a fare—just tap your card to the Go-To circle and you’re ready to ride!
While riding, be ready to show your Go-To Card to police officers. They will scan your card to verify that you have paid your fare. You must touch your card to the reader every time you ride the train.
Indicator lights on the readers and what they mean
GO
When the reader beeps and the light displays GREEN, your fare was deducted.
The screen displays GO or TRANSFER and shows the amount that was deducted and
the card’s remaining value or the expiration date of your 31-Day Pass.
WARNING
If the reader beeps and the light displays YELLOW, your fare was deducted but your card has less than $10 of value remaining or your 31-Day Pass will expire in less than five days.
The screen displays GO and shows the amount that was deducted and the card’s remaining value. It’s time to add value!
USE ANOTHER FORM OF PAYMENT
If the reader emits a low tone and the light displays RED, your card has no remaining value, your 31-Day Pass has expired or there is a problem with your card. Please pay in cash. If you believe the card still has value, call Customer Relations (612-373-3333) or visit a Metro Transit store to report the error.
Transfers
Transfers—good for unlimited rides at the same fare level for up to 2 1⁄2 hours—are automatically embedded on your Go-To Card.
Whether you ride a bus or train, transfers are automatically embedded on your Go-To Card. If you transfer to a bus with a higher fare, the difference will be automatically deducted from any stored value on your card. If your card has no stored value, you must pay the remainder of the fare in cash. If you transfer from a bus to a train, you must touch your card to the rail station card reader before boarding.
Traveling with others
You can use your Go-To Card to pay for up to eight fares at once. It’s perfect for families or friends traveling together. If you’re paying for a bus ride for yourself and others, tell the driver BEFORE you touch your Go-To Card to the reader.
If you have a 31-Day Pass and stored value on your Go-To Card, you may use the 31-Day Pass to pay for yourself. However, to pay for others, you must use stored value.
Transfers for each person in your group are automatically embedded on your Go-To Card – no paper transfers will be issued. Your group must complete the trip together for transfers to be valid.
How to check your card's value
or find out when a transfer will expire
Tell the driver you want to check your card. The driver will adjust the settings so it displays “Touch Go-To Card—Read Only.” You can then touch your card to the reader and see your balance or when your current transfer will expire without a fare being deducted
from your card.
Press Key B on the card reader before touching your card to the Go-To circle. Your card’s value will appear on the screen.
You can also receive balance information at Metro Transit stores.
How to add value to your Go-To Card
Add value online:
Click here to add a 31-Day Pass or stored value to your card. Simply provide your Go-To Card serial number and credit card information and we’ll add the requested amount to your card.
Add value at a rail ticket machine:
Press the F button (Go-To Card) on the ticket machine. Next, touch your Go-To Card to the Go-To circle below the screen. Select Add Stored Value or Add 31-Day Pass, then use the screen to choose the amount or type of pass you want to add. When the screen asks for payment, you can insert cash or a credit card. YOU MUST touch your Go-To Card to the Go-To circle one more time for stored value or a pass to be added to your card.
Ticket machine on the rail platform is only for adding value.
Pay your fare at the Go-To reader next to the ticket machine.
Add value in person:
Visit a Metro Transit store or select retail outlet. Cash, check and credit card are accepted.
Add value by mail:
Print out a mail order form. (Check or credit card)
What to do if your card is lost, stolen or damaged
Lost or stolen cards
Contact Customer Relations at 612-373-3333 or visit a Metro Transit store immediately so the card can be deactivated.
If the card is registered, you will receive a replacement card that contains the same value that your original card had at the time it was reported lost, minus a $5 replacement fee.
Non-functioning cards
If your Go-To Card fails to work on a bus, use another form of payment. To receive a replacement card, contact Customer Relations at 612-373-3333 or visit a Metro Transit store.
If I find my Go-To Card after reporting it lost, can I still use it?
Cards reported lost or stolen are disabled and cannot be reactivated.
Changing personal information
To change your phone number, mailing address or e-mail address, click here to revise your registration information. You can also call Customer Relations at 612-373-3333.
Metro Transit will not sell or disclose personal information without your written consent unless required to do so by law.
Caring for your Go-To Card
How do I take care of my card?
The Go-To Card is sturdy but sensitive. Follow these tips to keep it from damage:
DO keep the card in a protective wallet. Do not scratch, bend or punch a hole in your Go-To Card. The card will be deactivated if the sensitive wires inside it are broken or snapped.
DON’T hold your Go-To Card next to metal objects (coins, zippers) or electronic devices (cellular phones or pagers) when using it. The metal may keep you card from being read properly.
DON’T keep your Go-To Card in your back pocket—if you sit on it repeatedly, it may be damaged.
If I keep my Go-To Card next to a credit card, will either one be ruined?
No. Your Go-To Card contains no magnetic material so both cards are safe.
If I don’t use the card for a while, will it still work?
Your card will stop working after two years without use. To reactivate your card, bring it to a Metro Transit store.
Coming soon – more features
Your Go-To Card will be even more convenient when these features are added (by 2008):
Autoload
Never run out of rides! When your card gets low, we’ll automatically add value (a 31-Day Pass or an amount of stored value you choose) from a credit card. It’s easy, convenient and safe.
Added savings and convenience through your employer
Soon, employers that participate in the TransitWorks! discount program will be able to offer Go-To Cards with the benefit of automatic recharging through payroll deduction.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Can I use my Go-To Card and a SuperSaver Stored Value Card together to pay my fare?
No. They use separate readers that are not compatible. You may use a Go-To Card or a SuperSaver, but not both at the same time.
What happens if my Go-To Card doesn’t have enough value to pay the fare?
We’ve got you covered. Say you have $1 remaining on your Go-To Card and board a bus with a $1.50 fare. When you touch your card to the reader, it will deduct the fare, leaving the card with a negative balance: -50¢. When you add value to the card, the 50¢ you owe will be deducted from the amount added to your card.
Note: Even with a negative balance, a transfer will be embedded on your Go-To Card so you can complete your trip. After the transfer expires you will not be able to use your Go-To Card again until you add value.
Can I purchase a 6-Hour Pass or Day Pass with my Go-To Card?
No. You can only purchase regular fares with the stored value on your Go-To Card. You can purchase a 6-Hour Pass at any rail ticket machine using cash or a credit card. Ride even longer with a Day Pass, available online, at rail ticket machines and at Metro Transit stores.
My employer issues Commuter Checks. Can I use them with a Go-To Card?
Yes. You may use Commuter Checks to add value to your Go-To Card.
Get answers to other Frequent Asked Questions
Contact us – we’re here to help you
If you have questions, call Customer Relations at 612-373-3333.
Lost/stolen cards
If your Go-To Card is lost or stolen, immediately contact Customer Relations at 612-373-3333 or visit a Metro Transit store. Notifying us right away ensures that we can disable the card so no one else can use it. If your card is registered, we’ll transfer the value on your card at the time of your call to another Go-To Card.
