OATS: new fee and cashless boarding begins July 1 

OATS Transit Mid-Mo Region will change fare collection process 

COLUMBIA — OATS Transit’s Mid-Mo Region Office in Columbia has announced that it will stop accepting cash payments on buses effective July 1, 2023. The areas affected by the change include Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Camden, Cole, Cooper, Gasconade, Howard, Laclede, Maries, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage, and Pulaski counties.

Starting in July 2023, Mid-Mo Region drivers will no longer handle cash payments from riders. Instead, riders can add funds to their account in advance, and fares will be withdrawn each time a rider boards the bus. 

Riders can call 888-875-6287 to add funds to their account, which requires a minimum of $10 each time. Riders can also send personal check, money order, or cashier’s check prior to riding the bus by mail to: OATS Transit, 2501 Maguire Blvd, Ste 103, Columbia MO 65201. 

Additionally, fares for all public riders will be standardized at $2 per one way ride regardless of origin or destination. OATS is also eliminating the different fare structures and will have the same fare structure for all 15 counties. 

A news release from the organization said the change is necessary to ensure faster loading times, the safety of the drivers, the convenience of riders. Rider fares help maintain current levels of service and directly impact the company’s operating budget. 

Schedules and fare information can be found online at www.oatstransit.org; click on the bus schedules tab, then the county you live in. Area residents wanting to schedule rides should call the local office at 573-449-3789 or 800-269-6287. 

OATS, Inc. (dba OATS Transit) is a private, not-for-profit corporation providing specialized transportation for rural residents of any age, seniors, and individuals with disabilities in 87 Missouri counties. For more information about OATS Transit, visit www.oatstransit.org and follow at www.Facebook.com/oatstransit.