Capital Metro and Bytemark Expand Partnership for Comprehensive Fare Collection System Upgrades

Bytemark Connect will offer solutions to enhance the passenger experience for Austin-area riders

Bytemark, an innovator in the Mobility as a Service space, is expanding its partnership with Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Capital Metro). Bytemark will upgrade Capital Metro’s existing account-based fare payment system to one that will feature tap-and-go contactless payments plus a host of other functionality aiming to provide fast, easy, and safe payment solutions.

Bytemark will add functionality from Bytemark Connect, the account-based fare payments suite from its Plan, Book & Pay™ platform, Bytemark Bridge. The innovations include new ways to purchase and pay for fares, such as a tap-and-go payment option and adding reload opportunities in local retailers. Additionally, it will include new features such as stored value accounts.

With the changes, Capital Metro passengers will receive more ways to pay, faster boarding, and a central way to manage all fare media, reshaping the way they travel. The simple, straightforward operation will allow Capital Metro to troubleshoot customer problems faster.

“The team members at Capital Metro are leaders and innovators and our valued longtime partners — Bytemark is eager to apply our innovations and embark on this project that will deliver greater ease of use for Capital Metro and its passengers,” said Bytemark Chief Executive Officer Eric Reese. “These upgrades will enhance the experiences of passengers across central Texas and help achieve the goal of returning riders safely, all the while improving the customer experience and making it easier to ride.”

“We are excited to expand our relationship with Bytemark to bring our customers more user-friendly fare options,” said Capital Metro Chief Customer Officer Dottie Watkins. “This technology will give us the tools to allow customers faster and easier options to pay fares, including touchless payment options, even for those customers without credit cards. Our focus at Capital Metro has always been on the safety and ease of our customers while using our services, and this new technology will help achieve that.”

Flexibility is one of the cornerstones of MaaS, and the new solutions provided by Bytemark offer personalization and optimization of the travel experience.

They also build on Capital Metro’s recently introduced in-app stored value wallet, which allows users to add funds for ticket purchases. One upgrade later this year will include a cash retail network integration, letting riders pay for tickets or load their stored wallets with cash at participating retailers.

Upgrades to Capital Metro’s existing fare collection system include the ability to manage the in-app stored value wallets on the agency’s existing customer website and physical, reloadable account-based smart cards, which will replace the current smart card system that offers limited-use cards pre-loaded with a cash value.

Bytemark will offer riders web-based or in-app smart card management and the ability to create, manage, and use a barcode-based virtual card in the app.

Expansion will focus on tap-and-go payments. Other possibilities include trip planner enhancements or integrations and first- and last-mile mobility providers.

The new upgrades offer many benefits for riders. They will save time and gain more fare payment options. By using contactless payments, passengers reduce their interactions with drivers, an important consideration during the current COVID-19 pandemic as everyone continues to practice social distancing. The upgrades also support the use of cash when it is easier for passengers.

Capital Metro’s continued collaboration with Bytemark builds on a valued partnership that began in 2013.

“We are excited to provide Capital Metro, the riders, and the community with a solution that increases access to transportation as well as a cutting-edge solution that makes it easier for all to ride, safely,” Reese said.

Capital Metro serves Austin, the fourth-biggest city in Texas, and the surrounding areas. Its fleet includes 368 MetroBuses and 55 MetroRapid vehicles, 10 diesel-electric trains, 257 vanpools, and 108 paratransit vehicles.