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March 31, 2022

On the wires

Apple Pay and Google Pay Now Available in Transit

“More than 65 transit systems have launched mobile ticketing with Transit to make it easier for riders to pay their fare. Now, Transit is making the experience even simpler by supporting Apple Pay and Google Pay in the app. Starting with systems that use Token Transit as their mobile ticketing provider, riders are now able to purchase their fare quickly and securely, without having to take out their credit card or re-enter payment information.”

January 28, 2022

On the wires

InComm Payments Partners With Cuentas to Make New Transit Card Available at Hundreds of New York City Retail Locations

InComm Payments , a leading payments technology company, today announced that it has partnered with Cuentas , Inc. (Nasdaq: CUEN & CUENW) (“Cuentas”), a leading fintech provider of mobile banking and payment solutions focused on Hispanic and Latino communities, to distribute transit cards (tap and go) at participating retail locations in New York City.”

January 12, 2022

On the wires

Cubic Transportation Systems to Provide Next-Generation Fare Payment Technology to Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Cubic Corporation announced today that its Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) business division was awarded a second contract from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to continue providing and updating Port Authority Trans-Hudson’s (PATH’s) next-generation fare payment system. The investment will bring the next generation of contactless fare payment and collection technology, allowing riders to “tap and go” with their mobile devices and credit/debit cards.”

November 16, 2021

On the web

Canadian Transit Agencies Get on Board With Contactless Debit

American Banker

“As with any transit project, the addition of Interac debit cards as a fare option in Toronto was a long journey. Until recently, it wasn’t possible to use Canada’s Interac debit cards for tap-and-go transit rides, even though credit cards were supported on several rail and bus networks. Interac, Canada’s sole point-of-sale domestic debit card network, had to work with all of Canada’s financial institutions to upgrade their authorization systems for transit purchases.”

November 15, 2021

On the wires

Enablement of JCB Contactless Payment Acceptance at All OMNY Contactless Subway and Bus Validator Screens in New York

“JCB International Credit Card Co., Ltd. (JCBUSA), the US subsidiary of JCB Co., Ltd., Japan’s only international payment brand, and the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (NY MTA), the largest public transit authority in North America, are pleased to announce the enablement of JCB Contactless payment acceptance at all OMNY (One Metro New York) contactless subway and bus validator screens.”

October 13, 2021

On the web

MTA Adds Physical Omny EMV Card for Closed Loop Transit Ticketing in New York

NFCW

“The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has launched a physical Omny EMV payments card to enable passengers travelling on the city’s subway and bus services to make closed loop contactless ticketing payments. The MTA is rolling out the reloadable Omny card as an additional tap-and-go option for passengers who do not have — or do not wish to use — a bank card or digital wallet to pay their fares on the transit authority’s open loop contactless payment system.”

August 30, 2021

On the wires

Chase and Visa Help Support New Yorkers With Tap to Ride

“Chase (NYSE: JPM) and Visa (NYSE: V) have announced that starting today and through September, when riders tap on MTA subways or buses with a Chase Visa contactless card, they will donate 10 cents per tap, up to $250,000, to local nonprofit New York Cares. Whether a resident or visitor to New York City, tapping to ride is a quick, easy and secure way to get around New York. Now, riders who tap with their Chase Visa contactless card can also give back to local nonprofit New York Cares, the largest volunteer network in the city, which has been vital in supporting the local community throughout the challenges of the pandemic.”

August 13, 2021

On the web

NYC Transit Agency Builds New Strategy Around Contactless Payments

American Banker

“As New York’s open-loop transit payments upgrade nears completion, the project’s leadership is considering how to promote it for commerce. Transit systems are common testing grounds for new payment systems, since they require fast and secure validation at turnstiles and also feed riders into a network of merchants both within the system and above ground. The transition from closed-loop systems, like the stored-value Metrocard, to open-loop systems, like the new OMNY, creates a foundation for many other services to be built on top after the rider has enrolled.”

May 11, 2021

On the wires

Tap to Ride! Monterey-Salinas Transit Becomes 1st in California to Offer Riders the Ability to Tap to Pay With Visa

“Today, in collaboration with Visa, Caltrans, Cybersource, Littlepay, and SC Soft, Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) became the first transit agency in California to offer bus riders a contactless payment option. As cities begin to reopen, public transportation will play a critical role in recovery, and contactless payments can help provide a safe and easy experience for riders and transit operators seeking limited physical touchpoints and interactions. MST riders can now simply tap their contactless credit, debit, prepaid card or payment-enabled device on readers in MST buses for an easy and secure way to travel, without needing to purchase or load a separate transit card or handle cash while boarding.”

March 12, 2021

On the web

February 19, 2021

On the web

Google Maps Will Now Let You Pay for Public Transportation and Parking Through Its App

The Verge

“Google Maps is adding a couple of new useful features: the ability to pay for parking or buy a train ticket right from the app. Google Maps is integrating two mobile parking payment services into its app, Passport and ParkMobile . Both offer the ability to find, pay for, and replenish parking meters or parking lot fees through a smartphone app. Now, those features will also be available in Google Maps.”

January 20, 2021

On the web

PayByCar Comes to 30 Massachusetts Gas Stations

Finextra Research

“PayByCar, Inc., an innovative provider of transactional vehicle payment solutions, has announced the implementation of their services at all 30 Alltown gas stations in Massachusetts, where customers will be able to pay for gas and other goods directly from their mobile device, without ever having to take out cash, a credit card, or mobile app. Those with E-ZPass™ toll transponders who register for PayByCar™ on the PayByCar website (www.mypaybycar.com) will be able to easily pay for their fuel, without having to touch the gas station keypad, by using their transponders.”

January 13, 2021

On the web

January 12, 2021

On the web

Kenya to Combine Cashless Payments With Covid Contact Tracing on Matatu Minibuses

NFCW

“Passengers using Matatu minibus services in Kenya will no longer be able to pay their fares with cash once a digital fare collection system commissioned by the country’s National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) is rolled out. The NTSA invited tenders for the contract to develop a cashless payments service that would also incorporate Covid-19 contact tracing functionality in June 2020.”

January 4, 2021

On the web

All NYC Subway Stations, Buses Now Accept Apple Pay Mobile Payments

PC Mag

Apple Pay is now accepted at all subway stations and in buses across New York’s five boroughs; 15,000 OMNY readers at 472 stations and 5,800 buses. It’s part of the MTA’s One Metro New York (ONMY) payment system , which is on track to replace plastic MetroCards by 2023. Though some stations have been testing Apple Pay since 2019, the feature is now available at every location, AppleInsider reports.”

December 16, 2020

On the wires

Mastercard partners with Department of Transport and Main Road (TMR) Queensland to enable contactless payments across Gold Coast Light Rail

“Mastercard has announced its collaboration with the Department of Transport and Main Road (TMR) Queensland, enabling contactless payments across the Gold Coast Light Rail network as part of the transit authority’s new smart ticketing solution. The rollout of contactless payments means visitors to the city will be able to use debit and credit cards or their mobile wallets on enabled devices to tap on and off as they move around on Gold Coast Light Rail.”

December 8, 2020

On the wires

Mastercard Expands Partnership with Transport for New South Wales with Faster, Flexible Digital Payment Options for Sydney’s Commuters

“With the global economy racing to embrace digital payments, Mastercard research shows 66 percent of consumers use as much, or more contactless payment experiences compared to before the pandemic1. Meeting this demand, Mastercard is working with its urban mobility partners to apply digital payment innovation to transit environments in order to provide commuters with fast, convenient and secure payment experiences across whichever travel mode they choose.”

November 18, 2020

On the wires

O-CITY enters Kenya to drive contactless payments across Matatu bus service

O-CITY , the automated fare collection provider by BPC, today announces its initiative to drive contactless payments across bus services in Nairobi, Kenya. The O-CITY pilot, designed to reduce the use of cash in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, was launched in partnership with transport savings and credit specialists, NikoDigi, and Kenyan payments firm, Tracom, to accelerate the deployment of cashless fare collection. Used by 70% of the population in Kenya, Matatu buses are a dominant transport mode across the country whereby passengers traditionally pay in cash. O-CITY’s automated fare collection platform leverages the M-Pesa mobile wallet, which is used by 90% of the population in Kenya.”

October 6, 2020

On the web

Apple Pay and Express Transit Mode Now Support PASMO Transit Cards in Japan

Mac Rumors

“Japanese smart payment system PASMO today announced that it has launched support for Apple Pay , allowing users to pay for transit fares and other transactions using their iPhone or Apple Watch. Express Transit is also supported, which allows users to quickly pass through transit gates without having to wake or unlock their devices or authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID .”

September 16, 2020

On the web

MetroCard Swipes No Longer Needed to Get on Subway in Manhattan

Wall Street Journal (paywall)

“Subway riders can now travel across Manhattan without their MetroCard. New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority said Tuesday that it has completed installation of electronic readers for its new fare-payment system, OMNY, across all of the borough’s subway stations. Riders can pay for trips with OMNY using a tap-and-pay credit or debit card, smartphone or smart device, which they must hold close to an electronic reader.”

September 9, 2020

On the web

TAP card now available to L.A. Metro riders via iPhone and Apple Watch

Mass Transit

“The regional Transit Access Pass (TAP) card is now available on iPhone and Apple Watch for Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (L.A. Metro) passengers.   This new and safer way to pay transit fare allows L.A. Metro and 25 TAP transit agencies in L.A. County to offer easy, contactless bus and rail fare payment to riders.”

August 13, 2020

On the wires

EMT Valencia Launches Cashless Mobile Ticketing Solution with Partners Masabi, Mastercard and BBVA

Masabi, the company bringing Fare Payments-as-a-Service to public transport, announced that it has launched the EMTicket mobile ticketing app for EMT Valencia, working in conjunction with partners Mastercard and BBVA. The introduction of EMTicket will see Valencia become the first city in Spain to phase out cash payments in favour of contactless payment options, providing passengers with a Covid-safe way to pay and ride public transport and help speed up journey times.”

July 1, 2020

On the wires

O-CITY Joins the Visa Ready for Transit Program to Drive Contactless Payments for Mass Transit Systems Globally

“BPC’s smart city payment division, O-CITY, has joined the Visa Ready for Transit program for mass transit systems. Visa Ready for Transit program is designed for companies, like O-CITY, whose technology products and capabilities are helping transit agencies and riders realise the benefits of tapping to ride with a contactless card or digital wallet. Acceptance to the program means that O-CITY is a now certified partner and available to cities globally to accelerate their digital transformation.”

June 22, 2020

On the wires

Cubic Partners With InComm to Deliver Nationwide Network of Stored Value Reloads for Transit Agencies

Cubic Corporation today announced its Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) business division is partnering with InComm, a leading payments technology company, to provide a nationwide network of stored value reloads for transit agencies. Through this partnership, all transit agencies utilizing Cubic’s TouchPass solution will be able to leverage InComm’s retail network to establish a broad, fare product sales program in their service area that includes national and regional chain stores as well as local merchants, while avoiding all the headaches of creating, managing and servicing the program.”

June 17, 2020

On the web

June 3, 2020

On the web

Octopus Lets Hong Kong Commuters Add Their Transit Card to iPhone and Apple Watch

NFC World

“Octopus transit card holders can now use their iPhone or Apple Watch to pay their fares and make purchases at 35,000 retail outlets across Hong Kong that accept Octopus for payments. “With Express Mode for Apple Pay, customers only need to tap their iPhone or Apple Watch to take public transportation — and they’re good to go,” Octopus says. “There’s no need to authenticate with Face ID or Touch ID, no extra taps and no extra steps. Transaction and balance details are instantly displayed on your iPhone or Apple Watch.””

Contactless Payment on New York City Subway Is Delayed by Coronavirus

Wall Street Journal (paywall)

“The new way of paying for subway and bus trips using a smartphone or contactless credit card couldn’t have come at a better time for New Yorkers wishing to avoid touching a MetroCard vending machine. But the coronavirus pandemic has delayed by about two months the completion of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s new fare payment system, OMNY, across the subway, officials said.”

May 18, 2020

On the web

May 7, 2020

On the web

Costa Rica to Introduce National NFC and QR Transit Ticketing System

NFC World

“Costa Rica has announced plans to implement a national, multimodal transit ticketing infrastructure that includes support for both QR mobile payments and EMV contactless cards and devices. The system will employ a central collection system that will receive information on all transportation payment transactions, calculate the correct fares and distribute revenues to the relevant service provider.”

July 30, 2018

On the web

One Millions Taps—Tap To Pay Hits A Milestone

Translink

“It’s been two months since we launched Tap to Pay and we are happy to share our customers have embraced this new payment option in a big way. To date, there have been 160,000 unique users who have tapped their contactless credit cards and mobile wallets—a combined—more than one million times!  If you are a tourist in Metro Vancouver or an infrequent transit rider, Tap to Pay means no more ticket line-ups, digging for change, or worrying about fare zones.”

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