MTS Partners with INIT for Account-Based Fare System in San Diego

January 2019, The Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) has chosen INIT Innovations in Transportation, Inc. for the delivery of an account-based, open architecture electronic fare system in San Diego.

“Fare collection is at the core of our business and purchasing options are more diverse than ever. It’s incumbent that we keep pace with the technology our customers demand,” said Paul Jablonski, MTS chief executive officer. “INIT has a track record of success partnering with transit agencies to develop customized next generation fare collection solutions. We look forward to rolling this out in 2021.”

MTS passengers will benefit from the flexibility of this new system through:

• Real-time fare purchasing and loading. Whether through website or on their mobile app, value can be added to their accounts in real-time.

• Best price calculations. Riders just pay as they ride, and the best-possible fare will be deducted from their account. There will be no need to figure out the appropriate fare or buy day passes or monthly passes.
• A website and mobile app for account management.  Value can be added to the account easily through the web portal. Smartphones can be used for all transactions, from adding value to the account to tapping the phone on validators to ride.
• Vastly expanded retail network. Hundreds of retail outlets will be able to sell transit cards where riders can also use cash to add value to their accounts.

INIT will also provide more than 100 cash and about 70 cashless Ticket Vending Machines (TVM) to facilitate the convenient purchase of tickets and fare media. Ticket office terminals and mobile sales units will be included in the project to allow MTS to sell fares during large events.

Additionally, INIT will deliver about 900 fare validators for use on MTS buses and at rail station platforms. The validators will accept closed-loop payments such as an MTS-branded smartcard and be capable of accepting open payments such as bank-issued debit/credit cards and mobile wallets using Google Pay, Apple Pay or Samsung Pay.

The core intelligence of MTS’ next generation fare system will be INIT’s back-office processing and revenue management solution, MOBILEvario. MOBILEvario utilizes an open architecture design to integrate with various third-party vendors for a fully unified system. Due to MOBILEvario’s multi-client capability, MTS will have the ability for a region-wide, interoperable fare structure.  

MTS chose INIT because of their goal to implement proven technologies and secure a provider that can ensure a smooth transition to the new system.

About MTS: MTS operates 95 bus routes and three Trolley lines on 53 miles of double-tracked railway. Every weekday 300,000 passenger trips are taken on MTS bus and Trolley services in 10 cities and the county. In FY 2018, MTS served 86 million riders.