Transit agencies face a number of challenges when it comes to satisfying modern rider expectations. To keep up with demand for a more seamless metro fare collection experience transit agencies are looking for ways of enabling innovative technology solutions without inconveniencing riders or requiring large and expensive infrastructure upgrades.
The traditional method of fare gate replacement - where an entirely new fare collection system and gates are installed when the current technology is out of date - is too costly and time-consuming to keep up with the ever-changing pace of technology today. When we speak to agencies around the globe they are often frustrated at being locked-in by their existing validation infrastructure.
This begs the question, why replace the existing fare gates, when alternative methods that save time, money and extend life of existing infrastructure are available?
Retrofitting new optical readers onto existing gate infrastructure modernizes the gates to accept a variety of technologies that enable riders to use their smartphones, bank cards or bluetooth to pay their fare, without needing to purchase a separate paper ticket or refill a card.
Making sure retrofitted gate infrastructure can accept multiple ticketing formats is critical in ensuring agencies can add new fare collection technology without needing to replace existing infrastructure, extending the life of the infrastructure investment. Currently, a few forward-thinking agencies like Los Angeles Metrolink in partnership with LA Metro have installed the retrofitted readers on the Metro system.
For Metrolink, the retrofitted gates allow riders to use a paper or mobile ticket, using the Metrolink mobile app, to switch from the commuter rail service and continue their journeys on the subway. Tickets get inspected by staff using Masabi’s Inspect handheld app on the commuter rail service and again at the retrofitted fare gates. In the future, additional features and functionality, like contactless bank cards can also be added as required.
Retrofitted fare gates allows for fast and future-proof improvements to be made quickly and cost-effectively. These cost and time savings can instead be funneled into other service enhancements.
Looking towards the future, retrofitting fare gates can transform the fare collection set up for agencies running subway services around the globe, modernizing their existing infrastructure.
The new multiformat retrofitted gates enables riders to have a more seamless and convenient riding experience and allows for transit agencies to continue to adapt to advances in technology.
Brian Zanghi is president and CEO of Masabi. He is a software industry veteran who brings 20 years of experience in building software-as-a-service businesses to address the global market.
