Porterville, CA - The Zero-Fare Transit Program concluded on November 30, 2025, to support the City’s transition to in-house management of transit services. Originally approved as a 90-day initiative in 2024, the program was extended multiple times due to delays in installing fare collection equipment. These extensions ensured uninterrupted service for transit users throughout the transition period.
The transition has been successfully completed, and Porterville Transit has partnered with Token Transit to implement onboard validators for its fare collection system. The Token Transit Fare Collection System includes an option for riders to purchase digital fares through the Token Transit app. Once installed, the app enables riders to purchase fares and scan a QR code with the validator on board the bus. The Token Transit app removes the need for riders to carry cash or paper tickets, provides opportunities for future discounts and pay-as-you-go flexibility, and makes for a more efficient boarding and transit experience overall. The Token Transit app is available for free on both the App Store or Google Play.
Transportation Director, Russell Isom stated, “After eighteen months of fare-free service, we are pleased to announce the reinstatement of transit fares. During the fare-free period, our priority was to support our community, strengthen ridership, and ensure access to essential services. As we return to normal operations, these fares will help maintain service reliability, support ongoing improvements, and ensure the long-term sustainability of our transit system. We appreciate our riders’ continued support and look forward to providing safe, dependable, and efficient transportation for everyone in our community.”
Customer using the Token Transit validator.
Porterville, lying along the foothills of the picturesque Sierra Nevada mountain range, is located on State Route 65, 165 miles north of Los Angeles. The city has a strategic central location to major markets and ready access to major transportation routes. Centrally located midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, Porterville is situated on the eastern edge of California's San Joaquin Valley, just 17 miles off State Route 99, a primary north-south transportation route. The city is approximately an hour from Fresno and Bakersfield and is a bustling city of over 62,000, serving as a trade center to over 100,000 people. Porterville serves as the gateway to the Sequoia National Forest and Giant Sequoia National Monument, and is home to The Mighty 190, a local tourism collaboration that promotes countless outdoor adventures and natural amenities located along State Route 190 in southeastern Tulare County between Porterville and the Trail of 100 Giants. To learn more, please visit www.ci.porterville.ca.us or www.themighty190.com. Questions? Please contact yvelarde@ci.porterville.ca.us.
Streamline fare collection with Token Transit, the complete fare payments platform used by over 200 agencies in North America. Riders love that they can use digital payments to pay for transit fare through Token Transit, and transit agencies love Token Transit because it’s a flexible and robust solution for their fare collection needs. Read more at tokentransit.com.