Transit Agencies Feel Heat from Chip Shortage as They Source Closed-Loop Cards
Transit agencies continue to see long lead times on their closed-loop card orders because of supply-chain issues, and the situation is unlikely to improve this year.
Central Bank in Latin American Country Drives Nationwide Rollout of Open Loop; Can It Serve as a Model Elsewhere?
In a first for Latin America and perhaps one of the only projects of its kind in the world, the Central Bank of Costa Rica is building a nationwide infrastructure for open-loop transit payments, as it seeks to ultimately eliminate cash on board its buses and trains.
MaaS App Trial in Sydney to Include Numerous Subscription Plans, Separate Booking for Private Mobility Services
The New South Wales government in Sydney has released more details about its “Opal Plus” mobility-as-a-service trial, which will offer a large number of weekly subscription plans that bundle rides on the metro, trains, trams and buses in the Australian state. In addition, users will apparently have to book rides with private mobility providers separately.
Updated: New South Wales Government to Roll Out Digital Opal, Launch MaaS Trial App
The New South Wales government in Australia plans to spend just under AU$568 million (US$395 million) to upgrade its Opal fare payments system, including rolling out a digital Opal card and launching a mobility-as-a-service app.
Updated: Helsinki Transit Agency Awards Validator Contract for Open-Loop Payments Rollout
Helsinki transit agency HSL has awarded a contract for at least 4,500 validators it plans to use for its rollout of open-loop payments across its transport network.
Exclusive: Venice Transit Agency Seeks to Launch Open-Loop Payments with Capex-Free ‘Concession’ Model
Transit officials in Venice, Italy, plan to launch open-loop payments during the first part of 2023, following such Italian cities as Rome, Milan, Naples and Turin in enabling customers to pay fares with their contactless credit and debit cards.
Exclusive: Group of Small Transit Agencies Confirms Plans to Roll Out Open-Loop Payments Under California Program
A group of rural transit agencies in far Northern California are in the process of signing contracts with vendors to roll out open-loop payments under the state-backed Cal-ITP program, perhaps the first agencies to confirm they are contracting with vendors beyond the pilot stage, Mobility Payments has learned.
Ireland’s National Transport Authority Prepares to Accept Bids for Large Next-Generation Ticketing Project
Ireland’s National Transport Authority, or NTA, plans to award a contract for its long-awaited nationwide next-generation ticketing project by the fourth quarter of next year, the agency has told Mobility Payments. That is a least a year behind schedule.
Greek Bus Operators to Launch Open-Loop Payments
Bus operators in 33 small to mid-tier cities throughout Greece will launch open-loop payments–with the first bus agency to introduce the service next month, the main technology supplier on the project told Mobility Payments.
Exclusive: Vancouver Transit Authority has Lucrative Deal with Debit Scheme Interac to Enable and Promote Interac Brand for Open-Loop Payments
Vancouver transit authority TransLink signed a deal with Canadian debit scheme Interac last year that would pay TransLink a total of CA$2.75 million (US$2.1 million) for enabling customers to tap Interac cards and credentials to pay for fares and for promoting the Interac brand, Mobility Payments has learned.