Model for Open Payments Architecture in Transit Outlined in Smart Card Alliance White Paper

As the transportation industry looks to move towards open payment systems for more convenient transactions, there are complexities that need to be considered to successfully implement and deploy an architecture that accommodates open payments and integrates with other transit-specific systems. To support developers, integrators, procurers, and users of open payment systems for transit and transportation services, the Smart Card Alliance released today a framework for a reference enterprise architecture that provides a model for implementing a seamless fare payment system that traverses transportation modes, jurisdictions, markets and technologies.

The white paper, “Reference Enterprise Architecture for Transit Open Payment System,” was developed by the Smart Card Alliance’s Transportation Council and is available at http://www.smartcardalliance.org/publications-reference-enterprise-architecture-for-transit-open-payment-system/.

“Open payment systems are more convenient and user-friendly because they allow riders to use and carry just one form of payment to ride all modes of public transportation,” said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance. “But there are complexities, such as cost, time and integration that make implementing this type of system a challenge. This architecture helps to identify aspects of the process that are more complex, and provides a model for successful implementation.”

The white paper provides:

• Benefits of the reference architecture in implementing transit open payments systems, including interoperability, reusability, future-proofing and industry-scale economic benefits
• A recommended approach for the reference architecture, including how the architecture should be modeled, the scope of the five layers that compose an enterprise architecture, and detailed content contained in each of five layers
• Next steps for the industry to move the architecture forward, such as identifying high-priority areas that require further refinement, and adopting and developing open standards

Members involved in the development of the white paper include: American Express, CH2M,  Giesecke & Devrient, GO Systems and Solutions, INIT Innovations in Transportation, Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), NXP Semiconductors, OTI America, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Underwriters Laboratories (UL), U.S. Department of Transportation/Volpe Center, Utah Transit Authority (UTA), Xerox.

To continue the conversation on open payments in transit and other payments in transit-focused topics such as EMV and parking, account-based ticketing, and multi-modal payments convergence, the Smart Card Alliance’s 9th Annual Payments Summit, being held April 4-7, 2016 in Orlando, FL, will feature a transit track on the second day of the event.