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Why Smartphone Train Ticketing Hasn’t Sped Up
It’s the T if you’re in Boston, the L in Chicago, the Subway in NYC, the Muni in San Francisco, Metro in Los Angeles and the Tube in London. Just like each city has its own local flavor for its public transportation, each has its own distinct card ticket — a form factor that innovators with mobile payments hope will pave the way for the next generation of traveler.
Unfortunately, it’s a transition that’s been pretty uneven across most major cities where the lowly paper ticket still rules the ride.
Chicago seems to be the pace car for mobile fare apps. It’s been testing its Ventra app since October 2014 that will allow users to use their smartphones with pre-loaded virtual tickets with conductors on the Metra and Pace — the suburban train and bus option — to scan and collect fares. It’s still in test mode but is anticipated to rollout this year. NFC mobile ticketing will be available sometime in 2016. The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) already had a bumpy ride introducing the Ventra contactless card payment system that temporarily derailed the company’s relationship with its rider base, including giving riders cards that doubled charged or didn’t work at all. Those situations have been resolved and the CTA has made plans to add mobile payments by early next year.
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