Mobile Ticketing Launch for Frederick County Users

For the past 25 years, the only method for paying bus fares was for riders to have exact change (in cash form) or paper tickets (purchased elsewhere). If riders wanted to purchase packages of tickets (to receive bulk discounts) or to buy a day/month pass, they would need to mail in a check or locate a vendor for in-person purchases. While this has been the traditional method that transit agencies have employed, the modern rider demands a better experience. Because so many other products and services are easily accessed via online purchasing and on mobile devices, riders have come to expect a streamlined process, enabled by technology. Adrienne Moretz (Community Relations Manager for TransIT Services tells us that 60% of their riders have mobile Internet access. “It was time for an update,” she says, with regards to the methods by which riders could access faring options.\n\nTransIT knew what they wanted: mobile ticketing. But could it be financially feasible? For example, smart card reader systems are expensive to set up and require a significant investment in infrastructure. They began to seek a method for enabling the same benefits for their riders, but with less implementation and maintenance expense.

TransIT is the Frederick County public transit system that provides nearly 840,000 one-way passenger trips a year. They provide local and commuter bus service and demand response paratransit services as well as offering commuter assistance and employer outreach information. They position themselves as a community transportation organization that works within Frederick County in order to improve the lives of its ridership. As a strong community supporter, TransIT prides itself on being able to help its riders wherever they can. Ticket prices for seniors and students remain to be competitively affordable, ensuring that as many member of the community as possible have access to public transportation.