Bus Users in Cincinnati Can Now Tap and Ride Thanks to Validation Units Powered by Masabi
440 VAL100 units installed across Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) bus network, part of the EZfare regional fare payment system, to enable faster and safer boarding.
Cincinnati, OH & New York, NY Monday September 27th 2021 Masabi, the company bringing Fare Payments as-a-Service to public transit, today announced the deployment of 440 HID Global VAL100 units across the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) fleet, allowing riders to validate tickets and passes when boarding SORTA services – providing a contactless, secure and safe way to pay.
SORTA tickets are available for purchase on the EZfare regional fare payment system, which is powered by Masabi’s Justride platform. Passes can be purchased on the EZfare app as well as within leading Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) and mobility apps such as Transit, Uber and Moovit, while riders can also add funds to their EZfare Accounts at their local Transit Centers.
With the installation of validation devices, riders can now scan their mobile passes on a VAL100 when boarding SORTA buses, with an audible beep and a colored screen identifying the ticket is valid for use. The validation units will expedite the boarding process making riding SORTA services faster and safer by enabling contactless fare payments combined with electronic validation.
SORTA is a member of NEORide, a council of governments comprising 17 transit systems across 3 states, dedicated to the development and promotion of regional public transportation services, the largest of its kind in the United States. Other agencies in the EZfare network that have deployed validators include; Laketran, PARTA, METRO BCRTA, TANK, and MCPT.
“The last 18 months have demonstrated the importance of reducing contact between riders and staff on public transit, and minimizing touchpoints has taken on a new relevance to agencies with an important focus put on providing riders with a simple, contactless and speedy ticketing experience,” said Brian Zanghi, CEO of Masabi. “We’re excited to see the continued rollout of validation units across the EZfare network, providing quick and easy electronic validation for their riders, and expanding the reach of contactless validation, making riding public transit safer in face of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Putting the power to validate tickets into riders’ hands makes for a quicker and safer boarding experience, minimizing dwell time and helping our operators,” said SORTA CEO Darryl Haley. “We are excited to continue our work with Masabi building an EZFare network that not only empowers regional travel, but that strives to offer the same safe and comfortable experience to every rider, every step of the way. All via a single app.”
“We are excited for SORTA to launch validators throughout their entire system. This is the next step in expanding EZFare and creating a truly regional fare system that is easier and safer”, said Katherine Conrad, Director at NEORide.
About Masabi
Masabi is bringing Fare Payments-as-a-Service — a better way of delivering fare payments — 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, named Ticketing Technology of the Year 2019 and 2020, is used by more than 100 public transit agencies and operators of all sizes across 9 countries. Masabi has offices in New York, Denver, London, and Cluj, and investors include Mastercard, Shell, and Keolis. For more information, visit www.masabi.com.
About NEORide
NEORide is a Council of Governments with the goals of breaking down artificial boundaries, streamlining opportunities and making it easier for riders to use public transit across the region. Current members include: Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, Butler County RTA, Community Action Agency of Columbiana County , Laketran (Lake County), Lancaster-Fairfield Public Transit, Medina County Public Transit, Akron METRO (Summit County), PARTA (Portage County), Sandusky Transit System (Erie County), SARTA (Stark County), SEAT (Muskingum and Guernsey Counties), SORTA (Hamilton County), TANK (Northern Kentucky), TARTA (Lucas County) and WRTA (Mahoning County).
www.neoride.org; www.ezfare.us
ABOUT SORTA
Metro is a non-profit, tax-funded public service of the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA), providing about 13.5 million rides per year.
