Q: How do I view my purchased tickets?
A: On the home screen, click on the Wallet button to view your tickets. All active tickets will also be displayed directly on the home screen.
Q: What is the pending charge that appeared on my credit/debit card?
A: If you register a credit/debit card in Setup or Wallet of the app, Our Payment Service Provider will post and immediately reverse a small charge (usually 10 cents or $1.00) against the account as a test. Depending on your credit card company or bank, this charge may or may not show up on your statement as pending. The fee will not be charged against your card. Payeezy is the name of the credit card processing vendor for electronic payments.
Q: Can I buy a ticket for another person or group of people?
A: Yes, only if that person is traveling with you. Passes cannot be sent electronically to another person’s phone. Be sure to activate all tickets for all persons in your group before boarding the bus.
Q: What happens if my smartphone battery dies before I show my mobile ticket to the bus operator?
A: You are responsible for keeping your smartphone charged while riding the bus, just as customers must keep track of their paper ticket or transit pass card. If your phone dies, you must purchase a new ticket from a ticket vending machine (TVM) or use the bus farebox for your trip.
Q: What happens if I change phones?
A: You will need to download the app to the new device. If you register in the app with the same phone number, your previously purchased tickets and passes will load into the Wallet section.
Q: I forgot my PIN, how do I retrieve it?
A: To reset your PIN, select “Your Profile” from the more section. Click on Change PIN. If you do not recall your original PIN, select “Forgot PIN” to receive a one-time SMS verification code. Enter the code and create a new PIN.
Q: Can I buy tickets days in advance of my travel?
A: Yes, you can buy tickets in advance of your travel date. Non-activated tickets are stored in your Wallet. Do not activate your ticket(s) until shortly before you board the bus. You must use your tickets within 60 days of the purchase date, otherwise the tickets will expire.
Q: If I purchase a ticket in the app do I need to print a ticket?
A: No, you do not need to print a ticket. Go to the ‘Wallet’ option and activate the ticket before boarding. Show the ticket on your smartphone to the bus operator, or fare enforcement officer when required.
Q: Can I view my active ticket or activate a ticket when I have no or poor cell service, like in the tunnel?
A: You can view the Wallet section offline, including active tickets, non-active tickets and expired tickets. You also can activate tickets while your phone is offline, but the ticket(s) will only be available for 60 minutes. After that hour, your phone must reconnect to the Internet to view the ticket again. The other features of the app, like the trip planner, can only be used when online.
Q: What should I do if I didn’t receive the SMS text message with the 4-digit code to register my phone?
A: First, make sure you are in an area with good cell service where you can receive SMS text messages to your phone. You may need to contact your service provider to make sure your phone is set up to receive SMS text messages from 5-digit short codes. In some cases, service providers may have message blocking active.
Q: What types of tickets can I purchase in the app?
A: You can purchase MVTA Connect tickets and special event tickets on the app. Fixed-route tickets cannot be purchased through the app at this time. For more information on fares visit: https://www.mvta.com/fare/
Q: Once I purchase my ticket(s), am I done?
A: No, you must activate your ticket(s) before boarding the bus and show the ticket on your smartphone to the bus operator when required. Non-activated tickets do not qualify as fare payment.
Q: How do I set home and work locations in the app?
A: You can set home and work locations in your profile. You also can select your Favorite Stop/Stations to quickly view the next vehicle arrival. Before you go, choose a Bus icon to show the next arrival time or plan a ‘Take Me There’ option.
Q: Am I able to make changes once I purchase a ticket?
A: No, once you purchase a ticket, you will not be able to make any changes.
Q: If I lose my phone, is my information safe?
A: Your information stored in the app may be vulnerable if you have not taken precautions to protect your mobile device, such as locking the screen, activating remote features, and configuring two-step authentication for all apps.
Q: Can I use this on my iPad, Android tablet or other mobile devices that are not phones?
A: Yes, but the app will need the device’s phone number to communicate with your device and screen displays are optimized for smaller devices.
Q: How do I update the new app?
A: Go to the Google Play store for Android phones or the Apple App Store for iPhones and search for “RideMVTA” app to see if an update is available. You should run updates on the app as they are available to ensure that your phone receives any fixes or new features.
Q: Who do I contact if I need more assistance with the app?
A: Call MVTA Customer Service at 952-882-7500.
Contact your mobile service provider for data connectivity issues.
Q: Will I get an e-mail confirmation for purchases made using the application?
A: No, ticket purchase history will be available in the ‘Wallet’ section.
Q: Do transit tickets and passes cost more using the app?
A: No, the cost of a ticket purchased using the app is the same as tickets purchased using cash fare.
Q: How does the Trip Planner work?
A: Using the Trip Planner tool, you can create personalized journeys using our various transportation services. Results are shown in your choice of a text or map view.
Q: How do I register when I use the updated app for the first time?
A: When you launch the app, the new app will prompt you to enter your first name, last name and ZIP code and mobile number. You will receive a one-time passcode via SMS text message. Enter the verification code in the app and press “NEXT.” In the next step, enter your email address and create a password. Check your email account for a one-time verification code. Enter the verification code in the app and press “Next.” You also can register from “Your Profile,” under “More” in the app which follows the same steps. This is a one-time registration process.
Q: Who qualifies for a reduced fare?
A: MVTA Connect fares are the same for all riders. Children 5 and under ride free and all children 10 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
For more information on fares visit:
https://www.mvta.com/fare/
Q: How do I get a printed receipt for my ticket?
A: Choose “History” in the Wallet section. Select the purchase order. Use the export icon in the upper right corner to email a receipt for each transaction.
Q: What permissions do I need to allow to use the app?
A: You need to give the app these permissions for all app functions to work properly:
iPhone: Location information
Android: Network Communication (full internet access), Your Location (both fine (GPS) location and coarse (network-based) location), Phone Calls (read phone status and ID), and Storage (modify or delete SD card contents)
Q: Can I purchase multiple tickets at once for use over several days of my choice?
A: Yes, for the MVTA Connect Service Area you can buy and store tickets for up to 60 days.
Q: How do I get a refund if I don’t use my ticket?
A: There are no refunds for unused tickets. Please review the “Terms and Conditions” document (“Changes, refunds and ticket expiration” paragraph) for more information about refunds. In the app, navigate to menu “Settings” and select the “Terms & Conditions” option.
Q: If I bought the wrong ticket, what should I do?
A: All refunds will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Please call MVTA Customer Service at 952-882-7500.
Q: What should I do if I have the application open, but I’m having problems getting the system to respond?
A: Try exiting, closing and relaunching the app, or restart your mobile device. You may have to delete and reinstall the application or download the latest app update from the Google Play Store (for Android) or Apple App Store (for iPhone).
Q: How much does the app cost?
A: The app is FREE to download from the Google Play store (link here) or the Apple App Store (link here).
Q: What information is available about routes/stations in the application?
A: When pressing the Plan Journey button (“Home” screen), in the tab-bar, you will be taken to a map view of your area with stop/stations.
Q: How do I activate my ticket?
A: To activate the ticket, slide the button on the bottom of the ticket to activate.
Q: What happens to my tickets if I run an update the app?
A: Running an update will not delete your tickets or pass, or change your profile. Your tickets and profile are linked to your phone number, not to the app or your phone.
Q: What credit and debit cards can I use with the app?
A: We accept American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa, as well as most bank debit cards.
Q: How do I set up or change my payment settings?
A: You can add, change or remove credit card information stored on the app at any time in the more section. You will need to register the app before you can store a payment method.
To store a new credit card:
Select “Add New Card”
Enter your credit card details
By default, the app will store your card by the card brand, such as “Visa” or “MasterCard.” To set a default credit/debit card, click on the star next to the card name.
Q: How do I scan my ticket on the bus?
A: You do not need to scan the ticket on the bus. Instead, you must activate your ticket prior to boarding the bus. Show the ticket on your smartphone to the bus operator when required.
Q: What operating systems is the app available?
A: Currently the app is only available for these phone operating systems: Android version 5.0 (Lollipop) iPhone iOS10 and higher.
To see which operating system your phone is using:
Android: Go to Settings – About Phone to view the Android version number.
iPhone: Go to Settings – General – About to view the iOS number.
Q: Once I have the results, what’s next?
A: Enter where you want to go to receive detailed trip information. My location is the default starting point, but that can be configured once the destination is set.
Q: What if I accidentally delete the app?
A: Download the app again from the Google Play store or Apple App Store. Register your name and phone number again. Once you register the same phone number, the app will load your Wallet with your ti40.
Q: How do I report an issue or contact transit security in the app?
A: To report an issue, select the “Report a problem to MVTA” button on the app.
Q: Do you store or share any of my personal information?
A: For diagnostics, the app stores your name, phone number, build stage, app version, device model and platform and version. You can view this information in “Your Profile.”
Your credit/debit card information is protected by your PIN and stored securely with Payeezy, a leading provider of credit card processing for electronic payments. Payment information is neither stored in the app nor collected or stored by Minnesota Valley Transit Authority.
You can update your PIN at any time in the app, but this will require your existing PIN first.
Q: How is my privacy protected?
A: We do not share your profile information. Your information also is exempt from open records requests.
Q: Will I need a personal identification number (PIN) or Touch ID to make a purchase?
A: Yes. During registration, the app will ask you to create a PIN to protect your profile and credit/debit cards on file. You also have the option to enable Touch/Face ID if your device has that feature.
Q: What if I lose my network connection during a transaction?
A: Once a network connection is available, confirm that you purchased the ticket by checking in the Wallet section of the app. If not, you will need to redo the ticket purchase.
Q: How long can I keep a non-activated ticket?
A: Non-activated tickets will expire 60 days from the purchase date. A notification will be sent to your phone prior to expiration.
Q: If I have a ticket that’s purchased but not Active, can I get a fine for fare evasion?
A: There are no free rides. You must activate your ticket before boarding and show the ticket on your smartphone to the bus operator or fare enforcement officer when required. Failure to produce a valid (Active) ticket is punishable by arrest or criminal citation. Criminal citation can result in a $50 fine.