What is a Navigator?

CDTA's Navigator is your passport to exploring the Capital Region! Our secure, reloadable smart cards and mobile apps are making transit smarter, faster and better than ever!

The Navigator Mobile App is available for iPhone and Android devices. *Please know the mobile card is separate from the physical Navigator Card. 

Provide Feedback about the Navigator Mobile App!!

CDTA's is constantly trying to improve the Navigator Mobile App, please fill out he following feedback form to have your ideas heard: Navigator App Feedback

Common questions about Navigator Mobile App that will help you out:

• Why should I switch to the Navigator Mobile App?
  • More Convenience – Navigator allows you to load products anytime on your phone. Customers can set up auto load on their account to ensure uninterrupted service.
  • More Security – When registered, your Navigator balance is protected if the card or mobile device is lost or stolen.
  • Daily Cap (Best Fare) – Pay As You Go automatically charges the “best fare” ($1.30), so you never pay more than the cost of a day pass ($3.90).
  • More Rewards – Customer loyalty will be rewarded with special offers, discounts, contests, and promotions. The more you ride the more you receive.
  • Faster Boarding – Smart cards and mobile tickets will expedite boarding, leading to quicker trips to get you where you need to go
     
• Where can I use a Navigator Mobile App?

  Navigator mobile app may be used to pay for rides on CDTA buses, including all regular route, BusPlus, and NX commuter service.

• Where do I get the Navigator app?

  The Mobile App was released as of January 1, 2018. It will be available as an upgrade to the existing CDTA iRide Application. If you like you can download the existing iRide Application and be ready for the Upgrade to Navigator.

  • Android: CDTA iRide available on Google Play
  • iPhone: CDTA iRide available on Apple Store
     
• Why do I need to create an account to use the Navigator App?

  When you create an account using your email address you see the following benefits:

  • Ensure that any passes or Pay as You Go balances are protected in case you lose your phone.
  • Ability to transfer passes or Pay as You Go balances to a new phone.
  • Store credit card information securely in the application for re-purchase.
  • Access order information and updates online at nav.cdta.org
  • Access ridership history reports.
     
• What fares can I add to my Navigator App?

  Two fare products can be loaded onto your Navigator mobile app.

  • Frequent Rider -  Just like the 31-Day Rolling Swiper, this monthly pass is valid for 31 days of unlimited rides from the first day of use for just $65. The Frequent Rider expires one year after it is purchased if it is not used.
  • Pay As You Go - It’s like having cash on your card! Each ride will cost $1.30 for first three rides of the day, while the fourth and up are free for the rest of the day. That means that you will never pay more than the cost of a day pass ($3.90). Customers can add as much value as they would like by visiting a retail outlet. Minimum online Pay As You Go purchase value is $10. Pay as You go balances are good for the life of the mobile app.
     
• Is Half Fare Products available on the Navigator Mobile App?

  Not at this time, only Full Fare products are available. Half fare products will be available in a future release.

• Is AutoBuy available on the Navigator App?

  Not at this time, but your credit card information can be stored for quick and easy future purchases on the mobile application.

• Are the Navigator card and the Navigator Mobile App interchangeable?

  Not at this time. The Pay as You Go balance and/or Frequent rider pass on your Navigator Card is separate from the balance or pass on your Navigator Mobile Application. In the future the Pay as You Go balance will be available across both.

• Does the Navigator Mobile App integrate with Apple Pay or Google Wallet?

  No it does not you must activate the 31 Day Frequent Rider ticket or Pay as You ticket within the Navigator mobile app. Once the ticket is activated you have 5 minutes to scan the mobile ticket on the bus.

• How do I Sign In or Sign Up on the Navigator

  If you have an on-line Navigator Account

  1. Open up the Navigator App on your phone.
  2. Tap My Navigator
  3. On the Existing Customer Tab
  4. Type in your Registered Email Address
  5. Type in your account Password
  6. Tap Sign In
  7. Type in the Name of the Card and its Purpose (can be left blank)
  8. Tap Create New Card button
  9. You now have a new mobile card created for you and you can continue to purchase Passes or Pay as You Go Value

  If you do not have a current Navigator Account

  1. Open up the Navigator App on your phone.
  2. Tap My Navigator
  3. Tap the New Customer Tab
  4. Type in your First Name
  5. Type in your Last Name
  6. Type in your Email Address
  7. Type in your Password twice
  8. Tap Create Account
  9. Type in the Name of the Card and its Purpose (can be left blank)
  10. Tap Create New Card button
  11. You now have a new Navigator Account created for you which can be access on http://nav.cdta.org mobile card created for you and you can continue to purchase Passes or Pay as You Go Value

   

• How do you Activate and Scan the ticket on the bus?

  This example is for Pay as You Go Ticket, using the 31 Day Pass are the same set of steps
  Important Notes

  • Tickets are only active for 10 minutes so only activate a ticket when you are close to boarding the bus.
  • You will be charged for the ticket even if you do not use it on the bus, there are no refunds.
  • To scan the barcode use the Scanner below the dollar bill acceptor on the fare box, this is a different location than the Navigator Card.
  • You can pay for multiple riders by activating multiple tickets, only 1 active ticket every 10 minutes will count toward the daily $3.90 cap

   

  1. Tap the My Navigator button on the Application’s Home Screen
  2. Tap the Pay As You Go option.
  3. Tap the Single Ride - 1 Rider Pay As You Go pass.
  4. Tap Yes option on Activate Pass prompt
  5. Scan the QR Code shown on the bus, there will also be a countdown timer that shows you how long the ticket is active for (10 minutes)

   

• How do I transfer my Mobile Navigator Card to a New Phone?

  If you lost your old phone or had to restore your existing phone please call the Sales Office (518) 437-6876 to deactivate the card from your old/restored phone

  • On your existing phone

    1. Open up the Navigator App on your current phone.
    2. Tap My Navigator
    3. Tap Card Management (yellow button under the card image)
    4. Tap Transfer Card to Another Device
    5. Type in your account Password
    6. You card / account will now be removed the current device.

     

    On your new phone

    1. Install the Navigator App.
    2. Open up the Navigator App.
    3. Tap My Navigator.
    4. Log in to your existing account, Type in your email address and account Password.
    5. A pop will be shown to Retrieve Card tap the RETRIEVE button.
    6. You should now see you existing card on your new phone.

     

• Can I use the Navigator web site nav.cdta.org?

  Yes when you create a Navigator account on your Navigator Mobile App you can log into the Navigator website at https://nav.cdta.org. At this point you can do the following on the website.

  • Check your Mobile App balance.
  • Check your ridership history.

   

  In the future you will be able to:

  • Purchase products and push them to the Navigator Mobile App.
  • Setup Auto buy for products.
  • Disable an existing Mobile Card and Move it to a New Phone .
• Help!! My Balance is not updating on the Navigator app?

  We are aware of an issue with some types of phones not updating the balance correctly. If you follow the instructions below this will usually clear up the issue.

  • Release the card from your phone - Tap My Navigator, Tap Card Management, Tap Transfer Card to Another Device, Type in your Password, Tap Verify
  • Uninstall the App - Tap and Hold on the Navigator Icon on your home screen, drag to Uninstall or select Uninstall
  • Reboot your phone
  • Install the App - Go to the Google Play Store and re-install the app
  • Log into the App - Open the Navigator App, Tap My Navigator, Tap Existing Account, Type in email address and password
  • Retrieve the Card - A Pop-Up should appear to Retrieve your Card, Tap Retrieve
  • Check the Pay as You Go Balance - Tap Pay as You Go Tab, balance should update
    If it does not update immediately, Tap the Passes tab and then the Pay as You Go Tab again.
• Help!! When I scan the ticket/barcode on the bus I get an error?

  The Navigator Mobile App generates a QR Code that is scanned on the bus, due to various screen sizes, font sizes and color variations, we have enabled a feature in the mobile app that allows a customer to Tap the QR and show it as a static fixed-size image that is optimal for scanning on the farebox. It should look like this image.

  

  The Navigator Mobile App also requires the time to be synced with your cell provider's network time.
  To Check the time on Your Phone
  The phone time needs to be the current time as the scanning is based on when the barcode is generated, and the fare boxes are synced to a central time clock. To ensure this is the case follow these steps:

  • Open Settings
  • In settings find Date and Time
  • Make sure it is set to Automatic Date & Time or Network Time