Regional Transportation District officials on Tuesday launched a credit card tap-and-pay system designed to make taking public transit as easy as buying groceries and coffee — “a seamless, straightforward experience” they hope will help boost lagging metro Denver ridership and revenue.

RTD chief executive and general manager Debra Johnson inspected the system at an electronic “fare validator” panel west of Denver’s Union Station.

Riders can pay for their trips using credit cards or mobile wallets scanned into panels adjacent to drivers on 952 RTD buses and at 235 train and bus stations across the district’s 2,342-square-mile metro Denver service area, which spans eight counties.

First-time and occasional riders, perhaps visitors in Denver for Broncos football games, will find RTD with t

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