In collaboration with INIT, The Rapid has become the first transit agency in Michigan to launch contactless payments. As an additional option to Wave cards and cash fares, riders can now use physical credit or debit cards and digital cards stored in their mobile wallets to pay for transit.
The Rapid expects contactless payments to eliminate barriers by expediting the boarding process and enhancing accessibility. Instead of finding exact change, riders simply tap and board. This alternative is especially useful for the millions of visitors to the city who are attending special events like the ArtPrize Festival, concerts or sporting events.
Through INIT's back-office software, a transfer and daily fare cap is included for contactless payments, so all riders never pay more than the $3.50 daily max. This feature makes contactless payments more economically attractive compared to cash fares. Riders who want to take advantage of the daily fare capping must use the same form of payment for each ride.
The Rapid’s contactless payment launch is INIT's third implementation in the United States, following Portland, Ore., and Tampa, Fla. Two more INIT-built open payment projects are planned for Spokane, Wash., and Nashville, Tenn., in 2023.
