August 2020 - Catch the Link Northstar Link commuter bus Home About Accessibility Northstar Link Bus Features COVID-19 Resources News Contact Passenger Privacy How to Ride Schedules Route 887 Fares Smart Ride Park & Ride Buy a Pass Primary Menu Skip to content Home About Accessibility Northstar Link Bus Features COVID-19 Resources News Contact How to Ride Schedules Route 887 Fares Park & Ride Buy a Pass Smart Ride Route 887 Monthly Archives: August 2020 New fareboxes and fare payment options coming soon August 26, 2020 Nate Ramacher Northstar Link is preparing for installation of new fareboxes for all buses in its fleet. The modern fareboxes will bring new ways for passengers to pay their fare. Touchless pay options will be available using the new Metro Bus Smart Ride Card and mobile phone application known as the Smart Ride App. Cash fares and Smart Ride Tickets for short-term use will also be available across all services. The current Northstar Link fareboxes are over 20 years old. The new fareboxes, Smart Ride Cards and Smart Ride App will modernize the way Central Minnesotans are able to pay their bus fares. More information is available at https://www.ridemetrobus.com/home/smart-ride/. The farebox transition will take place overnight on a weekend late in 2020. The date is yet to be determined. The date of the transition will be announced in the coming weeks. Service will not be interrupted for the transition. We encourage customers to begin to use up their “old” fare media, including 31-Day Passes and 10-Ride Passes. The current passes will no longer be valid. Change cards will no longer be available or accepted after the transition. Stay tuned to catchthelink.com and follow Northstar Link on Facebook and Twitter for more updates regarding the fare payment changes. Recent Posts Federal public transportation mask mandate ended Northstar Link Holiday Service Schedule Availability of New Northstar Link Fare Media New fareboxes and fare payment options coming soon Service reduction effective Wednesday, March 25 to match Northstar Rail Archives April 2022 November 2021 September 2021 August 2020 March 2020 November 2019 April 2019 November 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 August 2017 March 2017 November 2016 April 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 June 2015 April 2015 November 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 March 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 June 2013 April 2013 Sign Up for Northstar Link Enews *All fields are required. Board smarter with Northstar Link’s new fareboxes Northstar Link resumed charging fares on October 1, 2021. Our new, intuitive farebox helps you board buses faster with a contactless Smart Ride Card or Smart Ride App. LEARN MORE Copyright Copyright © 2015 Northstar Link Commuter Bus. All Rights Reserved. 877.LINK.010 (877-546-5010) Northstar Link Commuter Bus is a service of the Northstar Corridor Development Authority (NCDA), Sherburne County and Stearns County. Rates and schedules subject to change without notice.