Butte Regional Transit Launches New QR Code Fare System
Butte Regional Transit (B-Line) launches its new transit QR code fare system on June 1, 2026, offering riders three new payment options — a reloadable smart card, the Token Transit mobile app, or a QR-coded paper day pass.
"We're happy to help and get this transition on board for everybody,” said Amy White, B-Line’s transportation analyst.
B-Line also says the current paper day passes will remain available and will include QR codes.
Currently, the regional public transit is replacing the fareboxes with a bus QR code scanner and expects to complete the transition by June.
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What to know about Butte County’s new transit QR code system
The new transport QR code system allows riders to pay via reloadable smart cards, mobile app, or day passes.
The improved smart cards can be reloaded online, by phone, or at the transit office. They are plastic, durable, and very similar to a debit or credit card. Bus riders can easily put it in their pocket, and it won't crumple up like a paper pass.
Meanwhile, the Token Transit app allows riders to pay the fare directly from their phones and generate a QR code pass, reducing the need for cash or a physical card.
Newly issued paper passes will also feature a QR code, bigger than the one on the cards. For riders with old ones, they will need to exchange them for smart cards or switch to the transit QR code application.
Cash payments will continue to be accepted; management encourages riders to carry exact change.
How to use the smart cards and QR codes
Using the new QR code payment options is fairly easy.
For the Smart Card:
Passengers boarding the bus must tap their card on the Token Transit validator. After doing so, a green checkmark and 'Fare Paid' confirmation will appear on the screen.
For the Token Transit app and paper pass:
1. Riders must prepare their paper pass QR code, while app users must open “My Passes” in the app to display their digital QR code.
2. Hold the QR code up to the new bus QR scanner.
3. Wait for the green checkmark to appear along with the 'Fare paid' confirmation.
White explained that modernizing B-Line's payment system is part of their goal to encourage more people to ride public transit in their area.
“We want to make sure that people have more ways to pay and that nobody’s left behind when they want to ride the bus," she said.
New QR-based fare system gets positive response
Views on using QR codes for transportation rides are fairly positive, particularly for the Token Transit QR code bus app and smart cards.
Anthony Nicosia, a B-line rider, is a fan of the card specifically. He shared that he has already lost multiple old paper passes, but the smart card changes it all as it's “very convenient," “plastic,” and "easy to hold.”
The QR code system and broader payment options provide a solid foundation for smart transportation in the county, improving mobility and accessibility.
Takeaway
Butte County’s transit QR code system reflects a broader movement in the public transportation industry, modernizing fare collection while keeping accessibility at the center of the experience.
With updated paper passes, the introduction of smart cards, and the Token Transit app, B-Line is creating a more flexible and efficient system that better meets the needs of area commuters.
Many transit systems across the country are slowly adopting contactless fare payment to improve accessibility and reduce reliance on physical cash. With B-Line's new system, Butte County finally counts itself among them.
