INIT Wins Contract to Supply New Fare System in Atlanta, Beating Out Incumbent Cubic
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, or MARTA, board of directors is expected to award a contract Thursday for its planned fare system to Germany-based INIT, which beat out incumbent supplier Cubic Transportation Systems for the deal, Mobility Payments has learned.
With Less Than a Year to Go Before Olympics, will Paris Transit Authority be Ready with Ticketing?
Paris regional transit authority Île-de-France Mobilités, or IDFM, has promised to enable “100% of spectators to reach Olympic and Paralympic sites by public transport” next summer during the games.
The authority, an official Olympics and Paralympics partner, has pledged to increase capacity on its transport network by 15% to handle the expected spike in ridership.
Philadelphia Launches Much-Delayed Open-Loop Service, as It Procures New Fare System
Philadelphia transit authority SEPTA launched its long-delayed open-loop payments service Friday under its existing contract with fare-system supplier Conduent, even as the authority pursues the procurement of a new fare system that could end up replacing the vendor.
SEPTA, or Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, launched open-loop on its buses, subway and trolleys, with commuter rail planned for early next year. All modes together will “include” use of 4,200 terminals that Conduent supplied, a SEPTA spokesman confirmed Friday to Mobility Payments.
San Diego Transit Agency to Target Infrequent Riders with Open-Loop Payments–at Least at First
The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, or MTS, and a smaller affiliated transit agency are planning to introduce open-loop payments in April–deep in the heart of car-centric Southern California.
The open-loop rollout is part of an account-based fare system, which MTS and its main vendor, Germany-based INIT, began rolling out a little less than five years ago.
Taipei Finally Agrees to Support Open-Loop Payments, though Service Could be Tough Sell to Regular Riders
The Taipei Metro, a major transit operator in Asia, plans to launch open-loop payments around 2025, Mobility Payments has learned. Taipei has been one of a dwindling number of the large cities that have resisted adopting the fare-payments technology.
Scottish Bus Operator Sees High Adoption for Open Loop, though Rate Doesn’t Include Generous Concessions
Transport for London isn’t the only transit agency in the UK seeing high adoption rates for open-loop fare payments. Among the others is Scottish bus operator Lothian Buses, which said its contactless penetration is nearing 60%.
But like Transport for London, which has touted 60%-plus open-loop adoption rates, Lothian’s high share of rides paid for with credit and debit cards and NFC wallets comes with a caveat.
Australian City Plans to Expand Open Loop to Entire Transport Network
Adelaide Metro, which serves Australia’s fifth largest city, plans to roll out open-loop payments throughout its transport network, including on its most-used mode, buses.
The agency is now installing around 1,300 validators on board buses for the rollout of the open-loop service by the end of this year. It’s following that with installation of another 1,100 validators on trains,
San Francisco Plans to Launch Open-Loop Payments Next Year; Will Maintain Strong Closed-Loop Clipper Card
San Francisco Bay Area transit officials are standing by their estimate for a launch of open-loop payments in 2024, as part of their account-based ticketing rollout, featuring a next-generation closed-loop Clipper card.
Cubic Appoints New President for Fare Business Division, as It Prepares for Possible Sale
Cubic Corp., the largest supplier of fare-collection systems globally, has hired a new top executive for its Transportation Systems division, appointing an executive from U.S.-based defense and infrastructure technology company Parsons Corp.
Cubic named Peter Torrellas, president of the connected communities business unit at Parsons, as Cubic’s private equity owners prepare
Canada’s Largest Transit Agency Launches Open-Loop Payments Today
Canada’s largest public transit agency, the Toronto Transit Commission, or TTC, launched open-loop payments today on its buses, streetcars (trams) and four-line metro, after years of delays.