Arc is the fare payment system used by all municipal transit systems in the region.
The "tap and go" fare payment system makes paying for transit simple and allows travel across the region easier for customers.
Using either an Arc card, Arc ticket, or a tap enabled payment method, customers can tap to pay for their fares.
Transit customers using an Arc card load value to their account and then simply tap their Arc card on the reader as they board the bus. Customers using a tap enabled payment device (ie. Debit Card, Credit Card, or mobile wallet) can simply tap their device on the reader as they board the bus. The daily accumulated fares will be deducted from the customers bank account at the end of the service day. Customers will still have the option to use cash in the fare box for a single trips.
For everything about the Arc program, visit myArc.ca. You may also call the Arc call centre at 1-888-302-0001 for Arc related concerns and questions.
Customers simply tap on/off transit using either an Arc card, Arc ticket or mobile payment device and pay a flat fee for their trip.
A fare cap will ensure no customer will pay more than a maximum amount set for their profile over a certain period.
Using an Arc card, funds in the transit account will be available immediately when loaded.
Using a debit, credit or mobile wallet, funds are deducted from the account for all accumulated trips at the end of the service day.
If a customer lost their registered Arc card or obtained a replacement bank card, they can transfer their account information (including monthly caps) to a new replacement card.
Using the Arc system ensures that all your trips on one service type (i.e. Commuter or Local) contribute towards a monthly cap. Once a customer reaches the monthly cap for a service type, they ride for free on that service for the remainder of the month. This encourages customers to use the system card, and rewards frequent transit riders.
The Arc readers or Arc hand held readers are installed on all participating transit agency buses. Customers must tap on and off these readers to pay their fare.
Arc card vending machines are available at all LRT stations in Edmonton, and key regional transit transfer locations (including Edmonton’s Kingsway Transit Centre, the Naki Transit Centre in St. Albert, the Bethel Transit Terminal, the Ordze Transit Centre, and at the Edmonton International Airport). An Arc machine is also available at the Strathcona County Community Centre. These machines have the ability to sell and load Arc cards, and sell single use Arc tickets for any transit agency in the region.
Post Secondary UPass Students - Fall 2021
Phase 1 - Adult riders - launched November 21, 2022
Phase 2a - Youth and Student riders - launched September 25, 2023
Phase 2b - Senior riders - launched January 22, 2024
Phase 2c - Subsidy riders and Mobility Bus riders - launched July/August 2024
Phase 3 - Open payment -the ability to use a Debit card, Credit card or Mobile wallet launched December 8, 2025
Arc is the name of the Edmonton region's smart fare product. It symbolizes creating a path between two points - much like how transit connects us to vital services, supports and each other.
It is an account-based electronic fare payment system that will make paying for transit easier and more convenient in the greater Edmonton region. Transit users in Edmonton, St. Albert, Strathcona County, Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc, Spruce Grove and Beaumont will all benefit from the same transit payment system when the program launches.
The system includes an Arc card that can be tapped when entering and exiting buses and LRT on all seven participating transit systems. With Arc, money is stored on a secure online account, not on the card.
April 2013 – Council formally endorsed a joint application between the City of Edmonton, The City of St. Albert and Strathcona County to the provincial GreenTRIP program to help fund a Smart Fare system.
October 2014 – Executive Team received an update on the Smart Fare project.
2015 - The Government of Alberta approved GreenTRIP funding for this regional initiative, which will improve convenience for customers using transit service in the Capital Region. Strathcona County, Edmonton and St. Albert are also supplying some of the funds for this project.
Spring of 2016 - LTK Engineering Services was retained as the overall program manager for this project. LTK is experienced in Smart Fare implementation and has strong knowledge of the industry.
April 2017 – an In Camera Smart Fare update was provided to Council on the negotiations with the preferred vendor.
July 6, 2017 - The City of Edmonton announced the signing of a $31.4M contract with Vix Technologies. This clears the way to begin to design and build the Smart Fare technology over a three year period. Once the technology is in place, Vix will also be responsible to operate and maintain the modern electronic transit fare payment system for the region for 12 years. The system will serve multimodal transit systems in Edmonton, Strathcona County, and the City of St. Albert. The system design also allows it to be expanded to additional regional transit systems in the future.
Fall 2020 -Installation of smart fare validators had been begun on Strathcona County buses, St. Albert buses, and some Edmonton buses.
Spring 2021 - Launch of the Arc brand and public announcement of the upcoming limited pilot.
January 2022 - Launch of the Arc phase 1 pilot with limited participants from across the region
November 2022 - Launch of adult products on the Arc system
September 2023 - Launch of youth and students on the Arc system
January 2024 - Launch of seniors on the the Arc system
June 2024 - Launch of Everybody Rides subsidized program on the Arc system
August 2024 - Launch of Mobility Bus riders on the Arc System
December 2025 - Launch of Open payment - allows riders to use a single device (a debit, a credit, a phone or a watch) to pay for transit. Open payment is not be available for period products like the U-Pass or school board passes.
Project funding:
Last updated: Tuesday, December 09, 2025 Page ID: 49793