App for transit fares coming soon

Taking bus tickets into the digital age, this fall, Halifax Transit will be rolling out an app where passengers can purchase fares and passes.

In July, Halifax regional council approved the $1.3 million tender to U.k.-based Masabi for their mobile fare app called Justride, along with an operating budget of $243,936 over five years.

Now, after negotiations, consultations and investigating best practices, it’s almost ready to go. It will work for fares on buses, ferries and Access-a-buses.

Marc Santilli, manager of technical services for Halifax Transit, told the transportation standing committee on Monday that it should be ready to go in about two months.

“We had anticipated concluding negotiations with the vendor a couple of months ago but that has dragged on a little longer than expected … we hope to have everything signed within a few weeks and after that it’s a matter of four to six weeks in terms of rollout,” he said.

Transit passengers will still able to use paper tickets and cash, he explained, this is just another method of payment. Discount programs including Epass, Upass, Affordable Access Transit Pass, and passes for Department of Community Services, high school students, and discounted fares for non-profits, charities, and special events will not be available on the app when it launches, but they may be included in the future.

City staff made price recommendations for passes that will only be available on the mobile app. They have been discounted between 10 to 20 per cent:

■ DAY PASS: $7 adults / $5 youth/seniors

■ TWO-DAY PASS: $12 adults / $9 youth/seniors

■ WEEKLY PASS: $23 adults / $17 youth/seniors

■ 20-RIDE PASS: $44 adults / $32 youth/seniors

Coun. Paul Russell (Lower Sackville) asked if people who don’t have cell data, like tourists who have their roaming shut off, will still be able to use the app. Santilli responded that the app needs to be connected to the internet to make purchases but doesn’t need connectivity to use it on the bus.

WHAT ABOUT TRANSFERS?

The app, used in cities around the world, is free. Santilli explained Masabi makes their money on commissions from the sales.

As for transfers, he said once the electronic ticket is activated, it will be active and usable for at least 90 minutes.

There was broad support for this initiative around the committee table on Monday where Coun. David Hendsbee (Preston – Chezzetcook – Eastern Shore) asked if it could be eventually used to pay for bridge tolls or at parking garages.

Santilli said they haven’t looked into that yet, but Masabi is flexible and able to integrate with other systems so it’s definitely possible.

“We can certainly discuss those opportunities with them to see if there are ways for us to integrate with other solutions," he said.

A mobile payment initiative started back in 2014 with the Halifax Transit Technology Plan. As part of that plan, the fare management strategy was initiated in 2017 to develop electronic fare systems.

The app is the first of four phases outlined in the strategy. Coming next is scanning technology which will use the Justride app so passengers can scan or tap their phones when boarding instead of having to show the driver.

According to the staff report, this second phase will follow nine months after the launch of the app.

After that, the plan is for passengers to tap pre-loaded smart cards, credit or bankcards to pay their fares.

YES! SAY MANY PASSENGERS

City staff took the temperature of transit riders about a mobile payment app with an online survey. More than 3,000 people responded, most of them daily transit passengers. Over 65 per cent prefer electronic payment options.

According to the results, a mobile payment app and contactless payment using tap with a credit, debit or mobile wallet were the top two options selected when they were asked what methods they would use most often.

It’s technology a lot of drivers will welcome. Shane O’leary, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union 508, said in July that it is long overdue.

He said generally, fare enforcement is left to drivers. O’leary said assaults over fares are common and many operators don’t get involved because it’s not worth it to get punched in the face.

Coun. Waye Mason (Halifax South Downtown) said on Monday that like many people, he pays for most things using his phone.

“Getting to a place where we have monthly passes and yearlong passes and all the other things in there, I think is going to be really good,” Mason said. “So I’m excited to see this moving forward and strong support for it.”

The committee voted Monday to recommend Halifax regional council amend the user charges by-law to allow this initiative to move forward.