Beyond the Swipe

The MTA has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to use new fare payment technology to greatly improve service. It has requested proposals for a contactless, ​“open loop,” or non-proprietary fare payment system that allows riders to use their phones or credit cards as transit passes to directly enter the subway or bus. While this new technology can improve customer convenience and transit performance, it also can support new fare policies and structures that would have a far greater impact on bus and subway service. To fully realize the benefits of this investment in new fare payment technology and start a discussion of fare policies, RPA suggests six principles for a new fare payment system.