Miami-Dade Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) has introduced an open payment system for its EASY Card transit fare system through collaboration with Cubic Transportation Systems, a division of Cubic Corporation.
Open payment technology allows Miami-Dade travelers to easily tap and pay for their journeys with contactless-enabled Visa and Mastercard bank cards, American Express credit cards, mobile phones and wearable devices. Travelers can now pay fares directly at Metrorail faregates using their contactless-enabled bankcards or digital wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and Fitbit Pay.
“My administration has been clearly focused on incorporating innovative technologies to make public transportation both hassle-free and appealing,” said Carlos A. Gimenez, mayor of Miami-Dade County. “The launch of contactless payment for our transit riders marks a great step forward for Miami-Dade County.”
With the introduction of open payment, travelers have the flexibility to choose how they pay for their journeys – adding a new level of convenience and accessibility. Contactless payments are processed directly against users’ bankcard accounts, eliminating the need to wait at ticket vending machines and purchase specific transit farecards.
“At Cubic, one of our main focuses is to understand the goals and priorities of the transportation agencies we work with,” said Matt Cole, president of Cubic Transportation Systems. “Delivering a seamless travel experience through cutting-edge technologies is what we strive to do each day and we are very proud to continue supporting Miami-Dade DTPW as it modernizes its transit system.”
Cubic’s fare collection system for Miami-Dade DTPW represents a hybrid system drawing from its technologies in cities such as New York, Chicago, Sydney, Vancouver and London, making Miami-Dade County a player in the open payment technology arena. Miami-Dade County’s move towards contactless payments will help reduce congestion while offering richer customer experiences for travelers, including regular commuters, occasional riders, tourists and visitors to the Miami area.
“We strive to make it easier to use transit,” said Alice Bravo, director of Miami-Dade DTPW. “Now, you can tap your phone or card and go! Tapping to pay with a contactless-enabled bankcard or digital wallet meets the high consumer expectations in today’s age of convenience.”
Miami-Dade DTPW awarded Cubic a contract in 2016 to modernize the EASY Card revenue management system as well as provide 10 years of back office cloud computing and support services.