The Metropolitan Transit System Board of Directors Thursday unanimously approved a three-year contract with moovel North America to implement a full-time mobile ticketing solution for passengers.
The system, which will replace a pilot mobile ticketing program that was used for special events, is expected to be implemented in time for football season for both buses and trolleys, according to the MTS.
The North County Transit District is expected to approve a similar deal, which would allow the agencies to share development and maintenance costs.
“Nearly 70 percent of our customers carry a smart phone and two-thirds of them said they would likely use mobile ticketing if it were available,” said MTS CEO Paul Jablonski.
“Mobile ticketing speeds up the boarding process, and puts the ticket vending machine in the pocket of our passengers,” he said. “It will make riding transit in San Diego much easier and convenient in the future.”
Mobile users will be able to purchase day and monthly passes, as well as one-way tickets, according to the MTS.
The mobile ticketing system is not a replacement for the troubled Compass Card, which has turned out to have security flaws. However, with numerous riders having access to mobile applications, the moovel technology will provide many passengers with an alternative ticketing arrangement.
The deal includes options for three additional years, for what could be a total of six. The firm, a Portland, Oregon,-based subsidiary of Germany’s Daimler AG, will receive a 4 percent commission on sales.
–City News Service
