COTA Partners With Uber and Masabi to Integrate Transit Trip Options and Ticket Purchase in the Uber app

Columbus, Ohio May 1, 2023 – The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) today announced a partnership with Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: UBER) to expand its options to include real-time transit information, journey planning and ticket purchase, through integration with Masabi, within the Uber app.

Uber has added COTA public transit information in-app so both COTA and Uber rideshare customers can compare more of their transportation options within the Columbus area in one seamless experience. This new feature integrating COTA, alongside Uber rideshare, provides customers with access to a broad range of affordable and reliable public transportation options. Customers can now access these new features directly in the Uber app.

“Uber’s partnership with COTA to offer real-time transit information and ticketing available in the Uber app demonstrates how private and public mobility partners can work together for a better customer experience, ensuring residents can more easily get to the jobs, food, healthcare appointments and other services and entertainment across the region,” said COTA Chief Innovation & Technology Officer Sophia Mohr. “As COTA works to enhance mobility in Central Ohio, we appreciate organizations such as Uber, with its massive customer base, for collaborating with us to improve transit infrastructure and make accessing transportation more equitable and inclusive.”

The update puts mobility options front and center, making it easier for customers to make informed decisions about how to get from point A to point B quickly and sustainably. Powered by Masabi’s Ticketing SDK, tickets for COTA services purchased via Uber cost $4.50 for a single-day pass, allowing passengers to plan, pay and navigate their travel via a single app.

“We believe that accessing transit should be easy. That’s why we aim to make our app a one-stop-shop for all your transportation needs,” said Jen Shepherd, Global Head of Transit at Uber. “We’re excited to work with COTA and Masabi to deliver a new set of ticketing options for customers in the greater Columbus and Central Ohio region. With tickets available in our app, riders are able to purchase fare tickets seamlessly and with more flexible options.”

“Ticketing options being made available through the Uber app allows agencies to offer riders increased accessibility to services and greater flexibility by providing a seamless ticketing experience,” said Brian Zanghi, CEO of Masabi. “We are excited to further develop our partnerships with COTA and Uber, and to help deliver a better rider experience for travelers in Columbus and beyond.”

How it works
Customers can enter their destination in the Uber app, and then be presented with Transit as a transport option. Upon selecting “Transit,” customers will get all the planning information they need to get to their destination using transit including real-time data, trip-planning and end-to-end directions.

Buying tickets through the Uber app is both quick and easy – once a rider has selected their route, they can choose to purchase and redeem them using their existing payment profile. Once purchased, tickets are stored in the “Transit Tickets” section of the Uber app. Users can activate tickets when boarding the bus. When users are offline, they can then show their passes to the bus driver for visual inspection .

 

ABOUT UBER
Uber’s mission is to create opportunity through movement. We started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get access to a ride at the touch of a button? More than 37 billion trips later, we’re building products to get people closer to where they want to be. By changing how people, food, and things move through cities, Uber is a platform that opens up the world to new possibilities.

ABOUT COTA
The Central Ohio Transit Authority is the region’s mobility solutions provider, driven each day to connect people to prosperity through innovation, dedication and teamwork. By utilizing technology and data, establishing community partnerships and applying sustainability principles, COTA provides equitable access to jobs, healthcare and education. For information visit www.cota.com.

ABOUT MASABI
Masabi is bringing Fare Payments-as-a-Service to public transit agencies and authorities of all sizes around the globe. This enables the delivery of the latest fare payment innovations quickly, using a platform which is constantly updating and adding new features. Not only does this improve the journey experience for passengers, but it helps agencies keep up with the pace of technology change, while reducing the total cost of fare collection. Justride is used by more than 200 public transit agencies and operators of all sizes across 4 continents. For more information, visit www.masabi.com.