Mass Transit Research Reveals that 87% of US Transit Agencies Will Implement Mobile Ticketing

Boston, MA, November 7, 2016 — Mass Transit today released the “Future of Fare Collection in Transportation” report supported by Masabi, the global leader in mobile ticketing and fare collection for public transport. The study surveyed more than 200 senior North American transport professionals on the future of fare collection and revealed the challenges transit agencies face today.

 

The research showed that 87 percent of transport agencies either have or are planning to implement mobile ticketing and mobile is expected to be the leading ticket retail option for passengers by 2021. It also identified that transit agencies are looking at new fare collection systems to solve a broad range of problems. When asked ‘What challenges do you want any new ticketing system to solve?’ 76 percent cited fare evasion, 69 percent cash handling and 66 percent customer satisfaction.  

 

Paper tickets from vending machines or station sales offices, as expected, are currently the primary form of retailing tickets, however by 2021 respondents expect mobile tickets to be the number one choice.  

 

Key findings from the survey include:

  –  87 percent of transport agencies either have or are planning to implement mobile ticketing and by 2021 mobile is expected to be the leading ticket retail option for passengers

  –  Within 5 years, paper tickets, the current staple of transportation ticketing options, are expected to be surpassed by smartcards, mobile barcodes and contactless EMV

  –  Paper tickets may be nearing their final swipe. By 2021 the leading ticket media will be the mobile phone.

  –  The top US transit agency identified by respondents as being on the cutting edge of fare collection was New York City MTA (32 percent).

 

“Transit agencies are united in the need to modernize their fare collection systems,” said Brian Zanghi, CEO of Masabi. “New technologies are opening up a world of possibilities and this survey shows that the industry recognises mobile as the first  step towards a more open fare collection world, transforming both transit agency operations and the customer experience.”

 

To learn more, you can download the report here.

 

About Masabi
Masabi is the global leader in mobile ticketing and fare collection for transportation. We deliver transit ticketing solutions that delight passengers and reduce costs for agencies and operators. Masabi’s JustRide is a scalable mobile ticketing and fare management platform. The company works in partnership with more than twenty-five leading transit agencies and operators in the US, Europe and around the globe, including; the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), Keolis, National Express Bus, Virgin Trains, Abellio, MBNA Thames Clippers, New Orleans RTA, Metrolink in Los Angeles, Transport for Athens, and New York’s MTA. With offices in Boston and London, Masabi’s investors include MasterCard and Keolis.