Greenlink's OneFare starts Saturday, Jan. 2: $2 a ride, two free transfers and daily, weekly and monthly caps on Umo or a card. Free cards from Nov. 23.

Greenlink’s one-way bus fare will rise from $1.50 to $2 on Saturday, Jan. 2. The change comes with OneFare, a new fare system that adds free transfers and automatic caps on what riders pay.

The Greenville Transit Authority board heard public comments in September and approved the system, the city said in a release on Monday. Greenlink Director James Keel set out the plan to City Council.

“Under OneFare, passengers will pay $2 for a one-way trip and receive two free transfers within a two-hour period when using the Umo payment platform,” Keel said.

What you will pay

Greenlink’s own OneFare page lists the rates by payment method. The page still describes them as the proposal. The city’s release confirms the $2 fare, the two free transfers and the caps, but does not restate every figure.

Rider Umo app or OneFare card Tap to pay (debit card, mobile wallet) Cash
Full fare $2, two free transfers in two hours $2, one free transfer in 90 minutes $2, no transfers
Discounted fare $1, two free transfers in two hours not listed $1, no transfers, EasyID needed
Student $1.50, two free transfers in two hours not listed $1.50, no transfers, EasyID needed

The discounted fare is for riders with disabilities, veterans, Medicare recipients and seniors. Today a one-way full fare is $1.50, and a second bus costs a 50-cent transfer, according to Greenlink’s rider information page.

“More than 75% of our riders purchase at least one transfer per trip, so they will experience no price increase with the new system,” Keel said on the OneFare page.

The caps

Once you hit a cap, the system stops charging you for the rest of that day, week or month. Caps work only with the Umo app or a OneFare card, not cash or tap to pay. The OneFare page lists:

Rider Daily Weekly Monthly
Full fare $5 $15 $50
Discounted $2.50 $7.50 $25
Student $4 $12 $42

The same page proposes a new paratransit fare for Greenville Area Paratransit (GAP). It would charge by how many regular routes the same trip would need: $4 for one, $5 for two and $6 for three. The base fare is $3 today.

Free cards from Nov. 23

Greenlink will hand out free OneFare cards to new customers from Monday, Nov. 23, through Jan. 30, the city said. You can also pay with the Umo app, which is free in the iOS and Android app stores. Cash will still be accepted.

  • A new route plan goes to a vote Thursday. The draft Transit Development Plan recommends six service improvements to coverage, frequency and connections. The Greenville Transit Authority board is scheduled to consider the final plan Thursday, Oct. 22.
  • Who rides. In Greenlink’s survey, 76% of riders said they have no vehicle and 78% said they could not make their trip without the bus. Nearly 80% ride three or more days a week.
  • Busiest routes. Core routes on Augusta Road and White Horse Road have strong ridership.
  • Bus stops. A $9.5 million program, including about $5.8 million from a 2022 federal RAISE grant, aims to bring roughly 80% of stops up to ADA standards. Construction is expected to start at dozens of stops this fall. Greenlink has upgraded 111 stops since 2021.
  • Later. Greenlink is studying bus rapid transit, regional links to Easley, Greer, Fountain Inn and Pickens County, and SkyConnect, an airport service planned for 2028.

What it means for you

If you pay cash for a single bus, your fare goes up 50 cents on Jan. 2. Cash riders who change buses lose the transfer: two buses would cost $4 in cash, against $2 today. On the Umo app or a OneFare card, a trip with up to two changes costs $2, and the caps limit what a daily rider spends.

Pick up a free card between Nov. 23 and Jan. 30. If you qualify for a discounted or student fare, Greenlink checks eligibility at the Transit Center, 100 W. McBee Ave. Questions go to Greenlink at 864-467-5000.

For more ways to get around, see our guide to getting around Greenville.