Bytemark And Capital Metro Go Live With New Features To Make Transit More Accessible And Equitable

Bytemark’s Plan, Book & Pay™ platform powers a new fare-capping pilot program and opportunity to buy fares and load wallets at retail stores using cash

Changes designed to increase accessibility for Austin, Texas-area riders are coming to Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro), deploying solutions provided by Bytemark, an innovator in the Mobility as a Service space.

The first change offers riders a new way to pay for fares. They can purchase tickets or load their wallets by making cash retail payments at more than 250 locations in the Capital Metro service area, powered by InComm Payments’ Vanilla Direct solution. It marks the first program rollout under a partnership entered by Bytemark and InComm Payments in August.

The second change will implement a product-based fare-capping pilot program that may expand after an initial six-month pilot phase. The fare capping feature is built on the Bytemark Passage account-based fare payment solution, part of the Bytemark Bridge Plan, Book & Pay™ platform. It marks the first release of the product-based fare-capping solution from Bytemark.

“We’re proud to collaborate with our longtime partners at Capital Metro on solutions that will improve the rider experience for so many in the Austin area,” said Bytemark Chief Executive Officer Eric Reese. “The hard work on all sides allowed us to move quickly from expanding our partnership with Capital Metro and entering our partnership with InComm Payments to rolling out the two exciting launches.”

“These initiatives are mindful of transit customers who can benefit from greater accessibility and equal access to fare products,” said Dottie Watkins, COO and Chief Customer Officer for Capital Metro. “The fast, easy, and safe payment solutions provided by Bytemark offer personalization and optimization of the travel experience that build on our recently introduced in-app stored value wallet.”

Customers who do not have credit cards, or prefer not to use them, can purchase tickets using the CapMetro mobile app by loading cash to a mobile wallet at no cost when they visit a convenience, drug, or other retail store in the InComm Payments network. The integration is built on the Bytemark Transact Payments as a Service solution.

“This new option for Capital Metro makes it easier for riders to purchase tickets or load value to their in-app wallets,” said Michael Herold, Vice President of Business Development, Tolling and Transit at InComm Payments. “Our team is excited to go live with the cash-to-mobile option less than three months after entering our agreement with Bytemark.”

Fare capping, the other newly released feature, offers riders the benefits of a period pass without the upfront costs. The product-based feature allows agencies without pay-as-you-go programs to still offer their riders the benefits of fare capping.  

Capital Metro’s product-based fare-capping pilot program will include up to 200 participants for an initial six months. Customers enrolled in Health & Human Services programs, such as Medicaid, CHIP, TANF, or Central Health Medical Access Program, will be eligible to apply. 

After purchasing a predetermined number of tickets over a set period of time, riders will receive an unlimited use pass for the remainder of the period. For example, if a rider purchases two single-ride passes within a day, the rest of their trips will be free for 24 hours after the first pass is activated. When someone buys 33 single rides in 31 days, they will automatically receive a 31-day pass.

Participants in the fare pilot program can become eligible to receive a free 31-Day Commuter Pass during the pilot by following these steps: 1. Making 10 fare-capping transactions per month for three months. 2. Completing a Capital Metro survey at the end of those three months.

Riders can use transportation without deciding in advance what type of pass they want while still enjoying the discounts that come from purchasing a longer-period pass. Local and Commuter services will each have separate fare-capping counts.

Capital Metro’s continued collaboration with Bytemark builds on a valued partnership that began in 2012. Capital Metro serves the greater Austin area, which has more than 2.2 million residents. Its fleet includes 368 MetroBuses and 55 MetroRapid vehicles, 10 diesel electric trains, 257 vanpools, and 108 paratransit vehicles.