DART to offer cash-loading option for fare app, cards

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and financial services startup PayNearMe are partnering to enable riders to load transit payments onto the GoPass app or new GoPass fare cards using cash.

The new cash-loading option and GoPass cards will be available starting in March 2017 at nearly 800 retail locations. The new GoPass is DART's first reloadable near field communications-enabled transit card, PayNearMe official said in a press release.

Riders will be able to present their app on their smartphone to a store clerk within PayNearMe's retail network and pay in cash to load value. DART GoPass cards will be sold and reloaded through the same network.

The cards will be designed and distributed by PayNearMe and Blackhawk Network. Fares will be loaded onto the existing DART GoPass app or the new DART GoPass card.

Near field communications technology on trains and buses will automatically deduct the correct fare amount when the card is held up by readers. Additionally, each card can be registered by its user in the event that the card is lost or stolen.

Value stored on the new GoPass card or app can also be used on the Trinity Railway Express and the Denton County Transportation Authority's system.