Florida transit agencies open up to Init contactless payments

And Init says similar projects in Grand Rapids, Spokane and Nashville will launch in 2023
By Adam Hill February 27, 2023 Read time: 2 mins
Tampa Bay: more ways to pay (© Hart)

Several transit agencies in Florida have adopted contactless payment systems from Init - and the company says open payment projects in cities including Grand Rapids, Spokane and Nashville will be launched later this year.

In Florida, a regional working group comprising Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (Hart), Hernando County (The Bus), and Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) have implemented open payments.

Passengers can  tap with credit and debit cards, digital wallet-enabled smart devices, and the Flamingo Fares card or mobile app to ride in the Tampa Bay region.

Adelee Le Grand, CEO of Hart, says: “Contactless payments on Flamingo Fares not only provides our customers with greater ease of access, removing another barrier from riding transit, but also assists in speeding up the boarding process, improving travel times.”

The transit agencies are the first in Florida to implement contactless payments using Visa.

Julie Scharff, head of contactless payments, North America, Visa, says: “Contactless payments combined with fare capping means riders have access to the best possible fares, leading to an equitable and convenient transit experience.”

“The adoption rate of open payment media in public transit has skyrocketed over the last few years, and that number will continue to rise as more and more people acclimate to using what's in their wallets to pay for travel,” states Andy Singh, Init COO.

Networking & Communication Systems

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Fujitsu and Ingenico join forces on Merseyrail ticketing
    April 16, 2014
    Fujitsu, in collaboration with Ingenico, has upgraded UK transport operator Merseyrail’s ticketing systems to enable contactless payment, enabling 63 Merseyrail stations across the UK to offer contactless payment in terminals and manned ticket outlets. Merseyrail will retain the Fujitsu Star point-of-sale ticketing system which it has operated for the past nine years and Fujitsu, in conjunction with Ingenico, will provide 92 iPP320 contactless PinPads and Axis, its proprietary centralised payment proces
    Read More
  • Smarter transport remains key to smart cities
    January 9, 2018
    Colin Sowman looks at some of the challenges and solutions that will provide enhanced transport efficiency in tomorrow’s smarter cities. However you define a ‘smart city’, one of the key ingredients will be an efficient transport system. As most governments and city authorities face financial constraints, incremental improvements in the existing systems is the most likely way forward. In London, new trains and signalling are improving the capacity of the Underground but that then reveals previously
    Read More
  • The inside story of how traffic chaos was avoided after I-95 collapse
    August 23, 2023
    June’s collapse of major US roadway I-95 in Pennsylvania could have caused lengthy traffic chaos. But - relatively speaking at least - it didn’t and gridlock was avoided. Alan Dron finds out why
    Read More
  • North Florida signals coordinated approach to congestion management
    October 7, 2013
    David Crawford investigates innovative congestion management in Florida. The largest US city by area is well into the implementation of an ambitious congestion management system (CMS) on the scale of those of higher-profile centres such as Seattle and San Francisco. Regional agency the North Florida Transportation Planning Organisation (NFTPO) aims to ensure that commuters on major highways in Jacksonville can rely on a minimum 72km/h (45mph) driving speed in normal conditions.
    Read More

Highlighted Content