Beloit Transit Introduces New Route, Fares to Boost Student Ridership
Beloit Transit Introduces New Route, Fares to Boost Student Ridership
All riders can take advantage of fare capping with WisGo payment system
Beloit Transit System is introducing a new route that will provide better service to area schools and reduced fares for veterans and students, as well as fare capping. The changes were approved on Monday, August 18, 2025, by the Beloit City Council.
The changes are designed to help boost ridership and improve transportation options for student riders to and from school.
Additionally, Beloit Transit is kicking off its new fare payment system, WisGo, to launch on September 2, 2025.
Reduced Fares & Fare Capping
Regular fares for Beloit Transit remain at $1.50 per ride. The fares for seniors or individuals with disabilities will remain $.75 per ride. A new reduced fare has been added for veterans at $.75 per ride.
Students can now ride the bus for $.50 per ride.
Free transfers are now eliminated under the new fare capping structure. The savings in the fare capping will offset that change for regular riders.
What is fare capping? Fare capping is a system that ensures riders never pay more than a set amount for rides in a day, week, or month. Instead of buying a pass up front, riders pay as they go. Once their payments add up to the cost of a pass, the rest of their rides in that time period are free. This system gives every rider the best price, no matter how often they ride. Weekly fare capping is for rides Monday-Saturday and monthly fare capping is for rides in a single calendar month. Riders must use a WisGo card or use WisGo in the Umo app to take advantage of fare capping.
Fare capping does not apply to the Beloit-Janesville Express route, Blackhawk Tech zone, passes, tokens, or cash fares.
|
Category |
Base Fare |
WisGO Weekly Fare Cap |
WisGO Monthly Fare Cap |
|
Regular |
$1.50 |
$13.50 |
$48 |
|
Reduced (seniors 65+, disabled or veterans) |
$.75 |
$6.75 |
$24 |
|
Students |
$.50 |
$4.50 |
$16 |
WisGo Fare System – a New Way to Pay
Beloit Transit is switching to the WisGo system effective September 2, 2025. Riders will have multiple ways to pay including the Umo mobile app which takes credit cards and debit cards along with Apple Pay and Google Pay and WisGo cards. Riders simply scan their mobile phone screen or WisGo card and the validator will automatically deduct the correct fare amount for each rider. If a rider reaches a fare cap, the validator will not deduct a fare. It will also tell riders if their fund balance is low.
Riders can download the Umo App at www.beloittransit.com/wisgo.
Students at School District of Beloit, Beloit Turner, and The Lincoln Academy will be able to obtain cards in their school office and add funds at www.umopass.com or at any CVS, Walgreens or Family Dollar stores. New student fare is not available on the app, only through school or BTS issued WisGO pass cards.
Riders can still pay with cash across all routes, but they won’t receive savings from fare capping. Students opting to use cash for reduced student fare will need to present their student ID to the driver.
Throughout the transition period, riders can still use their passes and tokens through December 31, 2025. Fare capping will not apply to those using passes and tokens.
New Route
Beloit Transit System (BTS) is replacing the low-ridership Gateway Route (Route 5) with a new East-West Route (also Route 5). The East-West Route will provide more direct service between dense residential areas and Beloit schools, improving access for students and meeting higher ridership demand. It will operate year-round, including summers, so students can also use it for activities beyond school. Route 5 will operate every hour between 6am and 9am, as well as between 3pm and 6pm Mondays through Fridays. The change is scheduled to take effect September 2, 2025.
An updated riders’ guide will be coming soon to www.beloittransit.com.