Mobile ticketing now available systemwide
September 6, 2023 – With the installation of mobile ticketing validators on rail cars complete, the simple, convenient, and easy-to-use fare payment option is now available throughout the Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s entire system.
Powered by Masabi, the company delivering smarter ticketing through its open platform Justride, mobile ticketing is now available on PRT’s network of 700 buses, 80 rail cars, and both the Monongahela and Duquesne inclines.
“We are thrilled to finally launch mobile ticketing across our entire network,” said PRT CEO Katharine Kelleman. “Now, whether you ride the bus, rail, either incline, or across different modes to get where you’re going, you’ll have access to the best our system has to offer.”
The latest installation was enabled through the use of the light-rail-certified Justride Validator, which conforms with NFPA 130, the National Standard for Fire Prevention for Fixed Guideway Transit and Passenger Rail Systems, a federal requirement for installation of equipment in rail vehicles. PRT is the first agency in the world to roll out the Light Rail Certified Just Ride Validator, which was specifically designed to operate in the tightly regulated light rail system.
“By launching a light rail-certified variant of Justride Validator, we can now extend mobile ticketing with PRT across their entire transportation network,” said Brian Zanghi, CEO of Masabi. “Building on the more than 700 validators that we already have live across the agency's buses, riders can now use mobile ticketing for multi-modal journeys of all types - dramatically increasing the ease by which they can travel around the county.”
Starting today, riders can purchase tickets using the Ready2Ride app, which is available for download from the Apple App Store and Google Play. PRT has also programmed its existing ticket vending machines to allow riders to use cash or payment cards at vending machines to load money onto their mobile ticketing account. Mobile ticketing is currently used for 13% of PRT’s trips.
“Mobile ticketing is a perfect example of how the use of technology can be used to simplify our system, increase access, and improve public transit,” said Jeffrey Devlin, chief innovation officer at PRT. “Our riders have been asking for this for years, and we’re genuinely excited to hear their feedback.”
PRT is also finalizing agreements that will allow riders to add money to their mobile ticketing accounts at several local retailers.