As Mobile Ticketing Makes Strides, E-fare Tech Ramps Up

摘要

More agencies are going mobile with fares. As many others plan to replace aging fare collection equipment, they take steps such as open fare and closed-loop payment systems while planning for mobile ticketing. Mobile ticketing, the process of buying fare on a mobile phone app, has rapidly gained popularly in the last couple of years. It can reduce the need for infrastructure, because riders already have the payment equipment in their smartphones, cut cost and the time riders spend waiting in line, as well as risk, and gather valuable rider data. Recently, Boston's Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), Portland, Ore.-based TriMet, North County (Calif.) Transit District and Dallas Area Rapid Transit all rolled out ticketing apps.