The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) announced the launch of its new open-loop fare payment system, designed to make public transit more accessible and convenient for riders.
Tap2Ride allows riders to board vehicles by tapping a fare validator with their contactless credit or debit card or mobile wallet. It simplifies fare payments, reduces dwell times, and offers a more efficient way to travel across Ventura County.
Mobility payments specialist, Kuba, has been selected to enable this solution on over 40 buses. Riders simply tap a Kuba validator with their chosen contactless payment method and enjoy a smooth boarding experience. Taps are aggregated and the best available fare is calculated and charged, taking into account fare caps where applicable.
Contactless open-loop payments offer significant benefits for both transit agencies and riders. Agencies can reduce overhead by minimizing cash handling and streamlining operations. Meanwhile, services run more efficiently by limiting wait times. Boarding can be up to twice as fast when riders “tap to ride” instead of paying with cash.
Additionally, the system makes fare payments trackable. This provides agencies with valuable insights into ridership patterns, which helps them to optimize their services and supports National Transit Database (NTD) reporting.
Martin Erickson, Executive Director of VCTC, said:
“The launch of our Tap2Ride program marks a significant step forward in making Ventura County’s transit system more convenient, modern, and accessible for all riders. With Kuba’s proven technology and expertise, we’re proud to deliver a faster, safer, and more inclusive fare payment experience on our Intercity bus routes.”
VCTC used the California Integrated Travel Project’s (Cal-ITP’s) Mobility Marketplace to procure state-of-the-art contactless payment technology for its network. Already trusted by Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) and other California agencies, the solution it selected allows passengers to pay fares with a simple tap of their contactless-enabled Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card, or their mobile wallet on a smart device (Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay).
Brian Frank, General Manager, Kuba North America, said:
“We are excited to partner with VCTC to bring open-loop payment options to Ventura County. Our technology is trusted by transit agencies across California, and we are proud to support VCTC in delivering a fast, frictionless payment experience.”
VCTC’s commitment to innovation and customer service is further strengthened by this partnership with Kuba, reflecting a broader trend among California transit agencies to adopt open payment systems for enhanced rider convenience and operational efficiency.
For more information about the Tap2Ride program, visit https://www.goventura.org/pay/.
