The Regional Transportation District (RTD) of Denver, in an effort to provide more integrate mobility options, partnered with Uber and Masabi to launch Uber Transit ticketing. Denver area riders will be able to purchase tickets and ride transit from the Uber app.
Following a staggered rollout over the next few weeks, all Uber riders in the Denver metro region will be able to buy RTD tickets through the Uber app and then use their phone to ride rail and bus services.
In February, RTD and Uber partnered on the first in-app integration of transit options, which allowed Denver area riders to see and consider transit route within the Uber app. This next step to allow ticket purchases through the app supports RTD's efforts to provide as near seamless travel options as possible.
“This exciting next phase of RTD’s collaboration with Uber is yet another way our transit agency is leading the dialogue about mobility strategy, not just for the Denver metro region but for cities across the globe,” said RTD CEO and General Manager Dave Genova. “This project broadens our reach and stays at pace with the public’s needs, allowing people to plan and pay for trips from start to finish.”
RTD notes that as the transit agency celebrates its 50th anniversary, it is launching a comprehensive look at the entire RTD service network – including new and emerging mobility options – to determine the future transportation needs of the growing region.
Purchasing transit tickets via Uber will cost the same amount as through existing options. Transit ticketing has been enabled using Masabi’s Justride SDK. Masabi first launched mobile ticketing services for RTD in the fall of 2017 with through the RTD Mobile Tickets app. Masabi explains that its Justride SDK allows Uber to integrate mobile ticketing into its applications.
“We know convenience is the number one reason people choose a transit option, and we truly believe that a multimodal public and shared private approach will be a key part of encouraging more people to take fewer private car journeys, reducing congestion for all,” said Brian Zanghi, CEO at Masabi. “By making public transit tickets available through Masabi’s Justride SDK in the Uber app, we are making this a reality for the first time, helping more people seamlessly and conveniently discover and access public transit services. The future of mobility in our cities relies on innovative agencies like RTD taking the right approach and ensuring that public transit is at the core of the emerging mobility ecosystem, and we’re confident more cities will follow their lead.”
Noting riders' preference for convenience, the partners made sure purchasing a transit ticket in the Uber app would be met with ease. Once the Uber app is open, riders enter a destination where they will see a "Transit" option in the "choose a ride" selector. Upon selecting the “Transit” option, riders will be able to purchase tickets on all available transit options while also having access to real-time schedules and walking directions to and from transit stations. Uber’s menu bar will let users purchase and redeem a range of tickets available on RTD services, including three-hour, day and monthly passes. Users activate tickets, which are stored in the “Transit tickets” section of the Uber app, when boarding transit services. Once purchased, tickets are available even when riders are offline.
“For the first time ever, taking an Uber trip can mean taking public transit,” said David Reich, Uber’s Head of Transit. “We are excited to expand our collaboration with RTD and Masabi to make Denver the first city in the world where riders can purchase transit tickets and ride public transit seamlessly through the Uber app. With this step, we are moving closer to making Uber's platform a one-stop shop for transportation access, from shared rides to buses and bikes.”
