MONTEREY COUNTY — Beginning this fall semester, Hartnell College students will be able to ride Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) more easily through a new Tap2Ride pilot program that allows them to board by simply tapping a contactless bankcard on the fare reader.
The pilot streamlines the boarding process by eliminating the need for students — who can ride MST for free — to show their student ID to the driver. Instead, they can quickly and securely tap a contactless bankcard on a fare reader, creating a faster and more convenient experience for both riders and operators.
“Public transit plays a vital role in helping students reach campus, jobs and other opportunities,” said MST General Manager/CEO Carl Sedoryk. “By working with Hartnell College to implement this technology, we’re making it easier for students to access the transportation benefits available to them while improving the customer experience.”
The technology behind the pilot is provided by Jawnt, a mobility technology company that helps transit agencies modernize fare payment systems and improve access to public transportation. The company works with transit providers across North America to simplify fare collection and enhance the customer experience.
“Connecting students to transit, while they’re in such an exploratory and transitional life phase, is a great way to win lifelong transit riders,” stated Jawnt CEO Jeff Stade. “Jawnt is excited to make it easier for students to build these habits.”
The Tap2Ride pilot is part of an ongoing partnership between MST and Hartnell College to improve access to education, employment and essential services through public transportation. The pilot is the next step in continuing MST’s groundbreaking contactless payments system that allows anyone with a major credit/debit card or contactless-enabled device to tap to pay and register to receive any discounts for which they may be eligible.
“Hartnell College is committed to removing barriers that can impact student success,” said Sandra Guzman, Hartnell College vice president of student affairs. “This pilot makes it easier for our students to take advantage of transit services and focus on what matters most: their education.”
In addition to improving convenience, the Tap2Ride program is expected to reduce boarding times and create a more seamless transit experience by allowing students to validate their eligibility electronically.
The pilot will launch at the start of the Fall 2026 semester. MST and Hartnell College will monitor the program’s performance and gather feedback from students throughout the pilot period.
For more information, visit mst.org or call Monterey-Salinas Transit toll-free at 1‑888‑MST‑BUS1 (1‑888‑678‑2871). For RealTime bus arrival information, text “Next” and the four-digit bus stop ID (example, “Next 9103”) to 25370, call 1‑888‑MST‑BUS1 with your four-digit bus stop ID, download the free Transit app, or use Google Maps.
