Tap-to-pay: Modernizing fare payments pays off for transit agencies and riders

As transit agencies look for effective, cost-reducing ways to improve rider experience and grow ridership post-pandemic, contactless fare collection programs can help save money and time for both riders and agencies.

By Don Russel, U.S. Bank, Regional Business Director Mass Transit

In the past two years, consumer use of contactless payments has surged. People love the simplicity and safety of paying for coffee, groceries, gas, and more by tapping a card, phone, or wearable. Visa reports¹ that nearly one out of every 10 Visa card transactions made at the point-of-sale (POS) in the U.S. is with a contactless card. Digital wallet use is skyrocketing as well, with forecasters estimating that 4.4 billion global consumers will shop with a digital wallet by 2023, accounting for 52% of e-commerce payments globally.²

Mass transit looks for smart solutions

As public transit use returns to pre-pandemic levels, transit agencies are looking for ways to give riders better, more flexible travel experiences. Switching to contactless payment systems that let riders use their credit card, debit card, or mobile wallet to tap to pay tops the list of popular strategies. Visa reports there are currently more than 700 U.S. transit projects underway that include the introduction of contactless tap-and-go payment methods. And according to Juniper Research³, contactless payments will triple to $6 trillion worldwide by 2024. In the U.S. market, contactless transaction totals are expected to rise even faster, reaching $1.5 trillion by 2024, compared with about $178 billion in 2020.⁴

How contactless payments work

Contactless payments work the same way chip cards do, by sending a secure, unique one-time token to the payment terminal. A rider taps to pay and the transit agency’s mobile payment device, card reader or terminal processes the payment. The entire transaction takes about two seconds.
 

See tap to pay in action.

Behind the contactless payment process

Here’s a snapshot of the entities involved in a contactless payment transaction:

Minimizing challenges, maximizing satisfaction

No matter where they live, mass transit users have one thing in common—they see contactless options as a way to reduce the frustration and hassles of outdated payment systems. In Visa’s 2022 Future of Urban Mobility survey,⁵ respondents listed these as the top benefits of contactless payments:

• Convenience (44%)   
• Time saved by faster transactions (40%) 
• Less worry about having enough cash (38%)
• Safety by reducing surface and face-to-face contact (35%)
   

Nearly a third of respondents (32%) said that offering contactless payments is one of the top features that would encourage them to ride public transit at all.  
 

Switching to contactless saves time, money, and hassle for riders by:

• Reducing long lines at kiosks that can lead to missed rides  
• Minimizing opportunities for theft associated with cash transactions
• Eliminating complexity around many fare choices and language barriers
• Removing the need to tie up funds in a prepaid transit card
• Offering flexible options for tourists and occasional commuters
• Eliminating lost paper tickets or smartcards
   

And contactless helps agencies deliver cost-effective, better experiences by:

• Minimizing costly equipment outages and maintenance problems   
• Providing enhanced data security and fraud monitoring 
• Reducing litter and production costs for disposable cards
• Eliminating multiple authorization fees by bundling a rider’s daily trips into one charge
• Reducing complexity by automatically calculating and applying fare caps and discounts  

Get on board with contactless

Interested in learning more about how tap-to-ride contactless solutions can help optimize costs while offering passengers a better experience? Download our ebook or contact us to discuss creating a contactless fare collection experience.