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Indigo to switch riders from MyKey to MyKey Plus this summer, add tap‑to‑pay in November
Summary
Indigo plans a phased fare modernization: a July 1–Aug 30 transition from MyKey to MyKey Plus with new physical cards and retail reload partners, and a November launch of contactless 'tap‑to‑pay' on validators; open houses and ambassadors will support riders through the change.
Indigo announced a two‑phase upgrade to its fare collection system that will begin July 1 and is intended to make paying simpler for riders and more reliable for the transit agency.
“We're going from MyKey to MyKey Plus,” Jennifer Pierce, Indigo president and CEO, told the Municipal Corporations Committee. Pierce said the agency will run a 60‑day transition (July 1–Aug. 30) where old validators and new validators operate in parallel so riders can use remaining MyKey balances while new MyKey Plus cards and a replacement app become available. Pierce added that the agency will distribute new cards at the Julia Carson Transit Center and work with retail partners so customers who use cash can reload cards at stores such as CVS, Walgreens and Dollar General.
The second phase is scheduled to 'go live' in November and will add contactless payments on validators — enabling riders to pay by tapping a credit/debit card or mobile wallet. “In November will start taking tapped pay,” Pierce said, listing Apple Pay and other digital wallets as supported options and stressing that cash acceptance will continue. Indigo will also keep paper passes available and hold open houses staffed by Indigo employees to swap cards and help riders transfer specialized fare accommodations (veterans, students and reduced‑fare passengers).
Pierce said the upgrade is intended to reduce friction for operators and improve revenue reliability. She described the change as aligned with Indigo’s strategic priorities of frontline safety, ridership growth and fiscal sustainability. Transit ambassadors will be on buses through September to share information and the agency will maintain a project website with retailer lists and outreach materials. The agency said it expects to turn off all old validators and deactivate legacy MyKey cards by early September but retains flexibility to extend the parallel‑run period if adoption lags.
The committee did not take formal action; Indigo staff will continue public outreach ahead of the July transition.
