NORFOLK, Va. – Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) today announced the full implementation of GoMobile, a new way to pay for fares on buses, light rail and ferry that’s making transit more convenient for everyone.
Customers can now pay by scanning the GoMobile app or tapping either a reloadable GoMobile card, bank card or mobile wallet. Cash will continue to be accepted.
“We have transformed the way our customers access and experience transit,” said William E. Harrell, President and CEO. “This investment in technology and infrastructure, following extensive planning and development, gives riders more choices and the best possible fares, any time of day, on three modes of travel. With GoMobile, the more you ride, the more you save at a time when you can ride all day for about the price of a gallon of gas.”
New ways to pay
Customers can now pay without needing daily or monthly passes on all buses, VB Wave trolleys, Tide light rail trains and Elizabeth River ferries.
- GoMobile app: Customers can download the HRT GoMobile app in the Apple App Store or Google Play, then create an account with an email address or phone number. Next, create a virtual card and add money to it with a credit or debit card. When boarding the bus or ferry, hold your phone screen up below the yellow-and-blue scanner and wait for the beep. For light rail, scan your screen at one of the fare validators at each platform before boarding and be prepared to show your digital GoMobile card to an onboard attendee for scan verification.
- GoMobile card: Cards can be purchased at new HRT Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) and customer service locations, with select retail locations being added in the future. Once you buy a physical card, load it with value and tap to board bus and ferry. For light rail, tap the card on station fare validators. Each reloadable card costs $2 for the card plus your selected amount of stored value, up to $200. The card can be reloaded as often as needed at ticket machines, customer service locations, online at gohrt.com/mobile via the Customer Web Portal, through the GoMobile app if linked to an account, or at select retail partners.
- Bank card or mobile wallet: No need to download the app, create an account or buy a card – just use a debit or credit card or mobile wallet as you would in a store. Simply tap the validator upon entry and the system will charge the appropriate amount. HRT accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express.
- Cash: Recognizing that customers prefer choice, cash will continue to be accepted when boarding buses or ferries or purchasing fares at newly installed Ticket Vending Machines at bus transit centers, light rail stations and ferry docks. TVMs do not provide change. Instead, customers will receive a receipt for the value of the change for use on a future purchase.
Paratransit customers or those using OnDemand Ridesharing will continue to use apps and passes associated with those services, not the GoMobile options.
New Ticket Vending Machines
As part of the GoMobile rollout, HRT installed new Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) at all light rail stations, bus transit centers and ferry docks. The machines enable customers to pay their fares by using coins, bills or bank cards. Unlike the old machines, the TVMs also supply new reloadable GoMobile cards for customers to add value. Machines at light rail stations sell single-ride paper tickets with a 30-minute limit. Single-ride tickets for light rail need to be validated prior to boarding. Customers can also check their GoMobile account balance and payment history on the machines. TVMs do not provide change. Instead, customers will receive a receipt for the value of the change for use on a future purchase.
Customer Web Portal
GoMobile comes with a web portal that gives customers desktop access to their account to manage payments, view trip history, and update personal information. To access the customer web portal, visit gohrt.com/mobile.
Introducing Tap & Save
Tap & Save is GoMobile’s money-saving feature. It lets customers pay as they go while always getting the best fare. There’s no need to buy a daily or monthly pass up front – the more you ride, the more you save.
With Tap & Save, never pay more than $4.50 per day ($2.25 for certified riders). The first and second time you scan, you’ll be charged the standard $2 each way ($1 for discounted fares). The third time you scan, you’ll only be charged 50 cents (25 cents for discounted fare). For every scan after that for the rest of the day, you won’t pay anything as long as you use the same GoMobile reloadable or virtual card and one card per rider.
It works the same monthly. Once you reach the $70 monthly cap (or $40 certified discount fare), all remaining rides for the rest of the calendar month are free.
App features
The GoMobile app is more than paying a fare. It provides up‑to‑the‑minute travel information, including service updates; a trip planning tool with real‑time details and fare information; an interactive system map; live views of arriving vehicles; and alerts, notifications and customized features.
The app was developed in partnership with Siemens Mobility software. GoMobile follows other recent technological enhancements, including interactive route map and smart bus stops with QR codes showing routes and next arrival times.
“We’re taking the guess work out of trying transit while putting planning tools at your fingertips,” said Michael A. Price, HRT’s Chief Technology and Information Officer. “The future of transit payment has arrived in Hampton Roads to give our customers more choice and more information to provide a seamless, user-friendly experience.”
“The implementation of GoMobile is a significant milestone in our mission to connect Hampton Roads with transportation solutions that are reliable, safe, efficient and sustainable,” Harrell added. “Introducing this technology to the region, along with the installation of new ticket machines, scanners and validators, was a priority years in the making, and we look forward to increasing ridership with access to transit that’s never been easier.”
“The launch of GoMobile represents an important step forward in making public transportation more accessible, intuitive, and integrated across Hampton Roads,” said Andrew Siesenop, Head of Software for Siemens Mobility North America. “By combining account-based ticketing, multimodal trip planning, and flexible payment options, Siemens Mobility’s software solutions will give riders greater freedom in how they move. We are proud to partner with the region in delivering a modern mobility ecosystem that puts the customer at the center.”
HRT fares are $2 one way and $4.50 all day. Children 17 and under ride free with a fare-paying adult. Certified discounted fare holders, Paratransit-eligible riders, and those with a Student Freedom Pass have their own fare. Visit our fares page to learn more. To learn more about GoMobile, visit goHRT.com/Mobile and watch this episode of On the Move, HRT’s YouTube show.
About HRT
HRT’s mission is to connect Hampton Roads with transportation solutions that are reliable, safe, efficient and sustainable. For more information on transit services, visit gohrt.com.
Media Contact:
Thomas Becher, APR
Manager, Communications
Cell: (757) 354-0564
tbecher@hrtransit.org
June 9, 2026