Arc Smart Fare System

[CplKlinger]

Excellent timing! I heard today December 8. That coincides with ETS Rider Appreciation Week so it would seem to check out.

WOOOOO! Fingers crossed it holds - thanks for keeping us posted with all things ETS

 

[cmartin58]

This is promising

 

[CplKlinger]

This is promising

View attachment 700565

Now they're just edging us.

 

[yeggator]

Now they're just edging us.

It’s not as exciting when it isn’t November though

 

[SarcasticMarmot]

This is promising

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Wait, does the tap to pay also include using your phone as an arc card? That's what I really want.

 

[CplKlinger]

Wait, does the tap to pay also include using your phone as an arc card? That's what I really want.

Not as an actual Arc Card no, but you can use a debit/credit card that's stored in google/apple wallet. Each will have a separate cap though, so if you tap your physical debit card in the morning and then tap your phone—with that same card stored in google wallet—in the afternoon, you'll have contributed $3.00 each toward two separate fare caps.

 

[trevorhayden]

A little bird chirped in my ear, December 8 is the day we all cheer!

 

[CplKlinger]

Launch of Arc tap to pay allows transit riders to pay directly with credit or debit

December 5, 2025 Media are invited to join representatives from the City of Edmonton and Strathcona County alongside community and regional partners to learn more about the launch of the last phase of Arc, which introduces the option to pay for transit directly with a credit or debit card or digital wallet. Date: Monday, December 8 Time: 11 a.m. Location: Ground level, Davies Transit Centre, 100 Davies Station NW Representatives will demonstrate the technology and be available for media interviews after the presentation. A toolkit, including photos and video, will be provided to media attendees shortly after the event. Please RSVP to Alastair Lillico by 9 a.m. on December 8.

 

[degrandprix]

Not as an actual Arc Card no, but you can use a debit/credit card that's stored in google/apple wallet. Each will have a separate cap though, so if you tap your physical debit card in the morning and then tap your phone—with that same card stored in google wallet—in the afternoon, you'll have contributed $3.00 each toward two separate fare caps.

This makes Arc cards obsolete for anyone with a contactless payment method right?

Since the fare cap still applies, the only difference using an Arc card vs tap pay is having to have the physical card on you and paying $6 to get it initially, both are disadvantages imo.

Maybe the one advantage for Arc would be the ability to track your account through myarc.ca?

 

[CplKlinger]

This makes Arc cards obsolete for anyone with a contactless payment method right?

Since the fare cap still applies, the only difference using an Arc card vs tap pay is having to have the physical card on you and paying $6 to get it initially, both are disadvantages imo.

Maybe the one advantage for Arc would be the ability to track your account through myarc.ca?

Arc is still neccesary for a bunch of fare groups, like UPass, public and catholic student transit passes, and ETS@Work. And the cards are good backups for when Interac or one of the credit card providers are having an outage.