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    1. Technology
    2. Fare Collection
    3. Fare Collection Equipment

    Flowbird Group to expand off-board fare payments for Metro Transit

    March 31, 2022
    The next generation fare payment system makes travel easier and more convenient in the Twin Cities.
    Related To: Flowbird Transportation Intelligence
    Flowbird
    Metro8 E1648640853510 Flowbird 6245cf496bf26

    Flowbird Transport Intelligence will be expanding its fare payment solutions for Metro Transit, the public transportation operator in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota.  

    The expansion includes 185 Strada StreetSmart Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs), including Flowbird’s cloud-based analytics platform, Flowbird Hub, that will service the agency’s new bus rapid transit (BRT) routes. 

    Metro Transit partnered with Flowbird in 2016 for off-board fare collection for its A-line BRT route, serving some of the busiest corridors in the system. Flowbird successfully delivered Strada TVMs to make travel easier and quicker for riders. Since then, boarding and dwell times have greatly reduced. 

    This new expansion will feature a total of 185 Strada StreetSmart TVMs to service the new BRT routes. Featuring an easy-to-read 9.7-inch touch screen, the new TVMs will allow riders to conveniently purchase fare tickets on-site before boarding. Each machine is equipped to accept a variety of payment methods including coins, bills, credit and debit cards, as well as contactless payments. Riders can select from one or multiple fare options from the LED touchscreen display and can choose from several different language options. Each machine is designed to withstand the region’s harsh winter climate. 

    The central data system, the Flowbird Hub Fare Payment Platform, manages and controls all sales and devices remotely, while providing the ability to update fares and purchase items. Information is consistently fed back to the cloud-based monitoring system so that potential issues can be addressed. The user-friendly platform allows agency staff to easily monitor each device and view important diagnostics. 

    By expanding their modernized fare collection, Metro Transit will be able to continue to offer convenient payment options, increase access to the transit system, speed boarding time and reduce other operating costs of fare collection. 

    Installation of the new TVM’s will begin on the BRT lines with light rail to follow.