Halifax Transit introduces Tap & Ride barcode and fare capping in $70 million system revamp
Halifax Transit has announced new fare payment features for HFXGO users, including a Tap & Ride barcode and daily and monthly fare caps. These updates are part of a broader $70 million transportation system revamp aimed at increasing service frequency ahead of a larger reworking in 2028.
Halifax Transit has announced significant changes to its fare payment system, introducing a new "Tap & Ride" barcode feature for users of the HFXGO mobile app. The update allows riders to pay fares on buses and ferries directly from their account balance, eliminating the need to purchase individual tickets.
A key component of the new system is fare capping, which ensures that adult riders do not exceed $7.50 per day or $90 per month. This benefit applies to seniors and Regional Express services but excludes individual tickets purchased and activated within the app. To access these features, users must have verified HFXGO accounts with added funds.
These payment updates are part of a broader $70 million revamp of Halifax’s transportation system, described as the first major upgrade in a decade. The proposal includes more frequent trips, expanded hours on busy routes, a new bus line for West Bedford, and 24-hour airport bus service. The changes aim to provide short-term relief and increase service capacity ahead of a larger system reworking scheduled for 2028.
The announcement comes amid growing demand for public transit in Halifax. Average weekday boardings across the system have reached 104,000, representing an increase of 7,000 trips since 2018. Concurrently, the number of overloaded buses has increased threefold since 2018. Ferry ridership has also seen significant growth, with Saturday harbour ferry usage up 37 percent since 2018. Daily ferry ridership now ranges between 58,000 and 65,000 people, depending on the day.