Bytemark Provides Sacramento Regional Transit District With New Cash Option for Mobile Ticket Purchases
Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT) riders now have an additional way to pay for mobile tickets.
Bytemark has released a new version of the SacRT mobile fare app, called ZipPass, allowing riders to use cash to make app purchases via the next generation of recently installed smart Fare Vending Machines (FVMs) procured from Scheidt & Bachmann, a manufacturer of intelligent mobility systems.
“Sacramento Regional Transit District is widening the accessibility of its transit options with the introduction of the new fare app and new FVMs, and we’re proud to connect riders with this exciting opportunity,” said Stephanie Schrauth, Vice President, Product Strategy & Marketing, at Bytemark. “Bytemark is committed to helping agencies provide in-demand features like this one to their riders using the functionality of our Plan, Book & Pay™ solution.”
“SacRT continues to look for innovative technologies to make the riding experience as convenient and safe as possible,” said SacRT General Manager/CEO Henry Li. “The smart Fare Vending Machines integrated with Bytemark’s mobile fare app will reduce touchpoints for our customers, accelerating Mobility as a Service.”
The patent-pending process is user-friendly — customers can use cash to purchase fare at one of the smart FVMs. Once the fare type is selected and purchased, the FVM will print a receipt with a voucher number. The customer just needs to enter the number into the app to redeem the fare.
The mobile app upgrade is part of Bytemark Passage, one of the six mobility suites that make up Bytemark’s Plan, Book & Pay™ platform, Bytemark Bridge.
The introduction marks the first of several recent innovations coming from Bytemark to support the underbanked and unbanked. Reducing the barriers to transit is a top priority for Bytemark and the agencies it serves across North America and Europe.
Giving riders an option for contactless cash loads also limits in-person interactions, which many riders want to avoid amidst the COVID-19 outbreak.
“We recognize the value of reduced onboard payments for riders at a time when we’re all social distancing,” Schrauth said. “This new payment method is safe as well as convenient.”
Amy Jenks, VP of Scheidt & Bachmann’s Fare Collection Division, Western Region, stated, “This new FVM has been redesigned, capitalizing on the ‘Best in Class’ features that have made the FVM robust and user-friendly and now strengthens it with even better serviceability and enhanced modularity, lowering the total cost of ownership while increasing up-time. The FareGo Sales ST|71 offers a wealth of new features and accepts all types of payment, such as cash, credit, debit, contactless payments and mobile wallets, such as Google Pay and Apple Pay, and can issue all standard fare media types. In particular, we are excited to have seamless integration with the Bytemark-developed ZipPass for SacRT, which allows unbanked or other ridership wishing to use cash to gain the latest in benefits from the mobile ticketing experience.”
Sacramento Regional Transit District serves a 400-square-mile area surrounding the state capital of California, the 5th largest economy in the world, and throughout Sacramento County, with an annual ridership of 22 million passengers in fiscal year 2020.