Benefits · Transportation

How to apply for RTS (Regional Transit System) — FREE Fare for Riders 65+ + ADA Paratransit (MV Transportation)

Regional Transit System (RTS) — public transit system operated by the City of Gainesville; serves Alachua County with fixed-route bus + UF campus circulators; FREE fare for riders age 65+ with RTS photo ID card; ADA paratransit operated by MV Transportation (the designated Community Transportation Coordinator for Alachua County) at $3/trip; RTS headquarters at 34 SE 13th Road, Gainesville

Who it's for

RTS (Regional Transit System) is Alachua County's public transit system, operated by the City of Gainesville. RTS operates extensive fixed-route bus service across Gainesville, the University of Florida campus, and surrounding Alachua County communities. DISTINCTIVE: RTS offers a 'Age-Based Fare Free Transit Program' allowing riders 65 and older to ride RTS FREE — no fare at all, just an RTS photo ID card. Riders apply for the ID card (available as a digital card online or a physical card at RTS headquarters at 34 SE 13th Road in Gainesville). Effective January 1, 2025, the 65+ free fare program requires the pass for boarding (no longer just verbal age verification). RTS also operates complementary door-to-door ADA paratransit service in lift-equipped vehicles for riders who are ADA-paratransit-certified and unable to use fixed-route service — paratransit rides are $3 per trip. On-demand paratransit service is provided through MV Transportation, the designated Community Transportation Coordinator (CTC) for Alachua County. Call MV Transportation at 352-375-2784 to set up paratransit reservations. RTS general customer service: 352-334-2600.

The 65+ FREE fare program is genuinely free — no cost at all for the bus rides, only the one-time process of obtaining the RTS photo ID card. This is among the most generous senior transit benefits modeled in the FL catalog. Effective January 1, 2025, the photo ID is required for boarding — riders cannot rely on verbal age verification anymore. Apply for the digital card online at go-rts.com or visit RTS HQ for a physical card. The age threshold is 65 (not the Florida-standard 60 used by most TD programs), so seniors aged 60-64 don't get free RTS fare but may qualify for ADA paratransit through MV Transportation under the Florida TD framework (60+ pathway). ADA paratransit at $3/trip requires individual mobility assessment and advance reservation. Combined coverage: RTS fixed-route + UF campus circulators provide robust transit in the urban core; rural Alachua County (High Springs, Newberry, Hawthorne, Waldo) has thinner fixed-route coverage so seniors there should pursue paratransit.

What you'll need

Proof of age 65+ (Florida driver's license, Florida ID, Medicare card, or birth certificate)
Proof of Alachua County residency (utility bill, lease, or government correspondence)
Completed RTS photo ID card application (online for digital card OR in-person at RTS HQ 34 SE 13th Road, Gainesville)
For ADA paratransit: completed MV Transportation eligibility application with mobility assessment + $3/trip fare
Advance reservation for paratransit (typically 24+ hours)

Where to apply

Apply online: official application

By phone: 352-334-2600

Renewals

RTS photo ID is ongoing (periodic renewal); paratransit eligibility periodic re-certification; rides scheduled per trip with advance booking for paratransit

Official source →Last verified · June 3, 2026

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Not legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.