Apple Pay coming to select US transit agencies later this year
Your phone or your watch may be all you need to pay a transit fare in New York City, Chicago and Portland later this year with news that Apple is bringing its Apple Pay feature to the select transit systems in the United States.
Apple Pay is used by several global transit systems including several locations in China, Russia, all of Japan's transit that accept Suica and Transport for London.
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will be one of the first U.S. transit agencies to debut the Apple Pay function through its Ventra Card, which can be used on CTA buses or trains and the area's Pace suburban bus service.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CTA President Dorval Carter released a statement, “Chicago is proud to work with Apple to elevate the experience of CTA riders. New Ventra Cards on iPhone will build on the strength of the existing Ventra system to make commuting in Chicago even easier and more convenient, and help modernize America’s second largest mass transit system for the 21st century. When one of the world’s most inventive cities teams up with one of the world’s most innovative companies, great things happen.
An iPhone-compatible Hop card is also planned for TriMet's service area, as is an iPhone-friendly fare for New York City Transit.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
