Cal-ITP: Agencies in California Could Hold ‘Several More’ Open-Loop Fare Payments Pilots
The California Integrated Travel Project, or Cal-ITP, is “on track to have at least several more” open-loop pilots or demonstration projects, a spokeswoman for the program told Mobility Payments.
Interest Growing in Open-Loop Payments in California, Says Cal-ITP
California transportation officials are hearing strong demand among transit agencies in the state to move to open-loop payments, a person handling communications for the state Department of Transportation’s California’s Integrated Travel Project, or Cal-ITP, which is helping agencies procure the fare-collection technology, told Mobility Payments.
State of California Seeks to Change Way Transit Agencies Procure Fare Systems
As the California Department of Transportation, or Caltrans, sees it, the state’s more than 300 local transit agencies offer a fragmented and inefficient mix of fare collection systems–a fact it says discourages many potential riders among the state’s nearly 40 million residents from taking public transit.
Open-Loop Payments Trial at Small California Transit Agency Could Lead to More Rollouts in Giant State
California public bus agency Monterey-Salinas Transit last month officially launched a six-month “demonstration” project to pilot contactless open-loop payments. While the agency is very small, providing only around 3,500 rides per day last year, the launch holds much greater significance.