Valley Regional Transit, the operator of ValleyRide, launched a new mobile app that allows bus riders to pay with their smartphone.

The app – called Valley Connect – is available for iOS and Android operating systems.

The app allows riders to purchase fares via their phone, without the need to pay cash when getting on the bus or purchasing a ticket in advance. Riders can pay using their credit card, Apple Pay or Masterpass.

[Voices: Leaders, citizens discuss future of bus transit funding in Boise]

For iOS, passes integrate with the platform’s “Wallet” feature. This allows fare passes to show up on the home screen of an iPhone. On iOS, searching for ValleyRide does not surface the app. Users must to search for “Valley Regional Transit” or “Valley Connect” and look for the pink circle icon.

- Story continues below ads -

Links inside the app provide route information, schedules, service alerts, and a real-time mapping feature.

Valley Regional Transit derives 7% of its overall funding through fares, according to a recent report to Boise City Council.

(Thanks, Wade, for the tip!)