Duluth Transit Authority, Masabi, Transit App Launch MyDTA Fare Payment System
Duluth Transit Authority, Masabi, Transit App Launch MyDTA Fare Payment System
After Months of intensive preparation and user testing, The Duluth Transit Authority is very excited to announce the launch of the MyDTA Mobile App which includes a fare payment system. The App was built in partnership with Masabi and Transit App. The DTA has used Transit as its recommended trip planning resource for several months, and with the launch of the MyDTA App, will pair Mobile Payment with Trip Planning and more.
With MyDTA, riders will be able to purchase mobile fares anytime, anywhere, using either the new MyDTA app or Transit, DTA’s recommended real-time trip planning app. The new MyDTA app makes the ticket purchasing process easier, safer and more convenient. With Transit, DTA customers now have access to an all-in-one experience that combines mobile ticketing from Masabi’s Fare Payment platform with trip planning, real-time tracking and connections to first-mile/last-mile services.
Those who prefer using cash can visit the Duluth Transportation Center (DTC) Information Booth, where DTA staff can look up customer accounts using a handheld scanner and issue mobile tickets or stored value directly to riders’ phones. Tickets will also be available for cash purchase at retail outlets within InComm Payments’ VanillaDirect cash-in payment network, where riders can preload cash onto their MyDTA or Transit account at several regional and national retailers with convenient locations throughout the Northland.
As part of the project, eighty Justride validation devices have been installed across DTA’s bus network. Passengers tap their phone when boarding, which scans their mobile passes and identifies the ticket as valid for use, differentiating between DTA’s peak and off-peak fares. The validation units will help speed up boarding times, making riding DTA services more efficient and safer for riders and operators, and give DTA the flexibility to turn on Account-Based Ticketing and other account-based features. This platform also prepares the DTA to implement innovative and equitable Fare Capping, which will allow passengers to get the best deal on fares at any time, using tracking to manage the process.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the development and deployment of contactless solutions not only for payment in general, but especially for public transportation. These solutions are not just convenient for our riders but instill a sense of trust and comfort that their safety – and the safety of our workers – is being taken into account,” said DTA Interim General Manager Rod Fournier. “MyDTA utilizes the very best technology available on the market to offer a solution that is second to none, easy to use, and available to everyone whether they choose to pay by card or cash. ” MyDTA and Transit are both available to download free from Google Play and the App Store. Visit MyDTA Mobile App - Duluth Transit Authority for more details.
David Clark, Director of Marketing, Duluth Transit Authority, dclark@duluthtransit.com 218-623-4314.
