The pilot will use the Ready2Ride app which allows riders to purchase a variety of fare cards, like single trip, as well as monthly and weekly passes on their smartphones. Masabi, the company that owns the app, has facilitated similar ticketing systems in other cities including Los Angeles and Denver.
Those interested in participating can sign up on Port Authority's mobile pilot site by providing information about how you use Port Authority transit services. The pilot will take a few hundred participants on a first come, first serve basis. Riders must have a smartphone to participate.
Well, that was easy pic.twitter.com/gk7BNNUhPS
— Port Authority PGH (@PGHtransit) January 19, 2021
Port Authority first announced it would be implementing a mobile bus pass system in 2019, when it signed a $2.85 million, three-year contract with Masabi to implement the app.
"I think riders are going to find the new mobile ticketing app to be fast, convenient and reliable, and it's an exciting step toward modernizing the way our customers pay their fare," said Port Authority CEO Katharine Kelleman in a press release. "And although we began planning for this well before the pandemic, providing our riders with a touchless payment system in addition to our ConnectCard is a tremendous benefit for obvious reasons."
