Boston Transit Agency Seeks to Put Massive Fare-Collection Project Back on Track
The massive new fare-collection system planned by Boston’s Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, or MBTA, which will include open-loop contactless payments and an expanded closed-loop program, has had trouble getting off the ground. Late last week, the transit agency finalized its “reset” of the project, agreeing to increase the contract by nearly 30% to just over $935 million and to add two more years to the rollout schedule–all in hopes of getting the project back on track.
Software-as-Service Platforms for Transit Agencies Begin to Support Open-Loop Payments
In what is believed to be a first, a transit agency in Europe plans to accept contactless credit and debit cards using a third-party software-as-a-service platform this summer, according to UK-based platform provider Masabi, although the company declined to name the agency. The project is expected to begin as a pilot.
Ohio-Based Transit Agency Group Planning to Enable Mobile Ticketing Through Uber App
(This premium article was originally published in May 2020. © Mobility Payments and Forthwrite Media.) A consortium of 13 small and mid-tier transit agencies in Ohio and Northern Kentucky plans to enable customers to buy public transit tickets directly in the Uber app as early as this summer, following two other U.S. transit agencies, in...
MaaS Backers Believe New Mobility Platforms Could Help Transit Providers Win Back Their Customers’ Trust
With Covid-19 lockdowns causing mass transit ridership in many cities to virtually fall off a cliff–with such cities as London, New York and San Francisco reporting drops of more than 90%–transport providers worry that some riders may not come back, even after the pandemic ends.
Apple Pay Expands Support for Interoperable Closed-Loop Transit Cards in China
Apple on Wednesday expanded support for closed-loop transit payments across China, incorporating China’s T-Union interoperable transit cards in its Apple Pay service.
Government Regulation of Mobility-as-a-Service Seen as Necessary to Encourage Widespread Adoption
(This premium article was originally published in April 2020. © Mobility Payments and Forthwrite Media.) Government legislation will likely be needed for widespread adoption of mobility-as-a-service, or MaaS, to occur, according to UK-based Juniper Research, which believes that the regulations will be necessary to force MaaS providers, including transit service providers, to work together, as...
After 10 Months, Sales of Public Transit Tickets in Uber App Still Make Up Small Share of Mobile Ticketing in Denver
(This premium article was originally published in March 2020. © Mobility Payments and Forthwrite Media.) Since last May, when ride-hailing service Uber officially began enabling customers to book and pay for public transit tickets in Denver directly in the Uber app, use of the service remains relatively low, accounting for less than 3% of all...
Moovit and Cubic Betting that MaaS Can Help U.S. Transit Agencies Regain Lost Ridership
(This premium article was originally published in January 2020. © Mobility Payments and Forthwrite Media.) With public transit ridership decreasing in most large U.S. cities over the past five years, transit authorities are more open to becoming part of mobility-as-a-service platforms, which could potentially increase ridership for their rail and bus networks while offering customers...
Mobility as a Service Continues to Get Rolling with Uber Expanding Service to Second U.S. City
(This premium article was originally published in January 2020. © Mobility Payments and Forthwrite Media.) Mobility as a service is expected to reshape the traditional transport industry, and while it is just getting rolling, the pace is starting to pick up. The latest bit of momentum came this week when global ride-hailing service Uber announced...
Cubic Strikes Deal with Google to Enable Closed-Loop Transit Payments in Google Pay
In a move that could enable more large transit agencies to offer NFC mobile payments with their closed-loop transit cards, U.S.-based Cubic Transportation Systems has signed an agreement with Google to integrate contactless transit cards with Google Pay. Among the agencies planning to support the service are those serving Google’s home base in Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York.