Metro Transit, the transit agency for the City of Madison, Wisconsin, and Masabi, the company delivering Fare Payments-as-a-Service through its open platform, Justride, today announced the launch of Open Payments across Metro Transit’s network. Riders can now tap their contactless payment card or mobile wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay to ride, without needing to buy a ticket or register in advance, while benefiting from daily, weekly, and monthly fare capping.
Just seven months after launching Account-Based Ticketing (ABT) with the introduction of Metro Fast Fare cards and a new mobile app in September 2024, Metro Transit and Masabi have expanded the system to include Open Payments. This latest enhancement builds on the success of the initial rollout, demonstrating a commitment to rapid, efficient, and rider-centric innovation. Metro Transit has expanded its fare payment options to include smartcards, a mobile app, and now Open Payments. This shift away from cash payments has streamlined fare collection, reduced boarding times, and lowered operational costs, all while improving the efficiency and reliability of service.
The launch of Open Payments delivers a new level of convenience and speed to Metro Transit riders, who can now simply tap their contactless bank card or mobile wallet when boarding. This streamlined approach, combined with onboard validators and multi-door boarding on BRT vehicles, will significantly reduce dwell times and keep buses running efficiently. Riders paying with bank cards benefit from the same fare capping as Metro Fast Fare Card and app users, $5 daily, $16.25 weekly, and $65 monthly.
“This next step in our fare modernization means it’s even easier for everyone to ride transit in Madison,” said Mick Rusch, Chief Development Officer at Metro Transit. “Whether you're a daily commuter, occasional rider, or visitor to the city, you can now just tap your card or phone and go. No apps, no passes, and no planning ahead. It’s fast, fair, and built to be easy to use.”
“Deploying Open Payments just seven months after the launch of account-based ticketing shows what’s possible when you combine innovation with speed and purpose,” said Brian Zanghi, CEO at Masabi. “This launch is about more than just technology, it's about improving lives and transforming public transit to make it an easier and more accessible choice for riders. We’re proud to continue working with Metro Transit to deliver a world-class fare payments solution for Madison.”
The solution is powered by Masabi’s Justride platform, an open, modular, and constantly evolving fare payments system used by transit agencies around the world. The system integrates with Metro Transit’s existing infrastructure, ensuring a unified experience across the agency’s network.
