St. Louis Metro Transit announced the launch of Account-Based Ticketing (ABT) in partnership with Masabi marking the next step in the agency's fare modernization journey. Riders can now tap to pay their fare at select MetroLink stations, with the rollout extending across the full network over the coming weeks.
The launch builds on Metro Transit's mobile ticketing rollout with Masabi in June 2025 and introduces a fully account-based fare system across the Ride On app, Transit app, and new Ride On smartcard. On MetroBus services, riders can tap their Ride On smartcard or scan a barcode in the Ride On or Transit app at onboard validators when boarding. On MetroLink, the system goes a step further, with riders able to tap or scan to open fare gates and pay in a single step. Gate access is currently available at select stations, with the full network coming online over the coming weeks as the rollout completes.
Fare capping ensures that no rider will ever pay more than $5 in a single day or $78 in a single month, regardless of how many journeys they make. Once a rider reaches the daily or monthly cap, subsequent travel within that period costs nothing, delivering the value of a pass without requiring payment upfront. Riders who prefer the certainty of a set monthly commitment can continue to purchase a monthly pass directly through their account in the Ride On or Transit apps.
Metro Transit's Ticket Vending Machines are also integrated into the new fare system, giving riders an additional way to purchase fare products and load them directly to their Ride On account. Riders with a registered Ride On smartcard can tap their card at any TVM to identify their account, with the machine presenting the fare products available to them based on their eligibility. This ensures that riders entitled to reduced fares can quickly and easily access the right products, with the correct discounts automatically applied to their accounts.
"This is more than an update. It's a transformation of how the bi-state region experiences transit, and it would not have been possible without partners who believed in it alongside us,” said Taulby Roach, President & CEO of Bi-State Development, which operates Metro Transit. “This investment in new fare technology, new security gates, and infrastructure upgrades strengthens public confidence in Metro Transit and positions our region for the growth that a safe, reliable transit system makes possible."
“Account-Based Ticketing removes complexity for both riders and the agency, delivering the flexibility to offer fair, equitable pricing across every channel," said Brian Zanghi, CEO at Masabi. "With ABT now live across the network and integrated directly with MetroLink's fare gates, Metro Transit riders can simply tap and ride, confident that the system will always find them the best fare. We are delighted to be supporting Metro Transit as they take this significant step forward in their fare modernization journey."
Metro Transit is the primary public transit operator serving the Greater St. Louis region across Missouri and Illinois. Its network includes the MetroLink light rail system, the MetroBus bus network, and Call-A-Ride paratransit services, connecting communities across the city of St. Louis, St. Louis County, and St. Clair County, Illinois. The ABT launch marks a pivotal step in the agency's commitment to making transit more accessible, equitable, and convenient for all riders in the region.