Today, Thunder Bay Transit officially launched its new electronic fare card, Lift Pass, a new and convenient way of paying for bus fare. Lift Pass allows passengers to load Transit fare products onto a reloadable smart card who can tap their card to ride Thunder Bay Transit and Lift+ Specialized Transit.

Lift Pass cards can be reloaded online as well as in-person at select locations across the city.

Lift Pass cards are available at the Transit Office, 570 Fort William Road, from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. For the month of April, the Transit Office will be open extended hours on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, until 6:30 p.m. On Saturday mornings, excluding Easter Weekend, the office will be open 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Passengers can also pick up a new Lift Pass card at City Hall, Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. until April 25, 2025. City Hall will continue to serve as a reload site where passengers can reload their Lift Pass with Transit Products.

Beginning April 15, 2025, select retailers will begin to sell Lift Pass cards. At these locations, passengers can get a new Adult Monthly Pass, 10 Ride Multi-Pass and Day Pass. Passengers will also be able to reload all other pass types at these locations as well.

“The launch of the Lift Pass starts an exciting new era for transit in Thunder Bay,” said Laura Daniels, Supervisor – Customer Service Care & Administrative Services, Thunder Bay Transit.

“This new pass puts more transit services online and offers a more convenient way to purchase bus fare.” 

Monthly passes will become fully digital starting May 1. Paper tickets will continue to be accepted on buses until July 31. After that time, paper tickets can be exchanged at the transit office for rides on a Lift Pass card.

Customers who pick up a new Lift Pass before April 30 will not have to pay for the card. After April 30, a new Lift Pass card will cost $5.

Passengers can continue to pay their fare with cash. Passengers paying with cash can receive a 90-minute transfer directly from the farebox displaying a clear time of when it expires. Passengers paying with a Lift Pass will have the 90-minute transfer stored directly on their Lift Pass Card.

For more information, please visit www.thunderbay.ca/liftpass