The Vendor is required to provide transit are collaborating to implement a region-wide electronic fare payment system.
- System shall support fare collection across multiple agencies and service areas while providing a consistent and seamless experience for passengers.
- The participating transit agencies seek to install additional equipment and system enhancements compatible with each Agency’s existing systems to expand electronic fare media and introduce additional electronic methods of fare collection.
- The Agencies also seek a centralized back-office system that provides accounting and reconciliation capabilities to segregate and report fares collected by Agency, route, service, and method of payment, as applicable.
- Microtransit/paratransit CAD/AVL: Managed through the Via system, utilizing Android tablets with cellular service (T-Mobile/Verizon), Bluetooth connectivity, and Lytx monitoring.
- On-board network hardware: S700 and R1900 Cradlepoint devices installed on fixed route vehicles. Wireless networking is available for riders, with wired connectivity available to support additional services, including Hanover integration.
- Update and modernize fare collection processes by implementing account based mobile fare payment platforms and devices that support regional interoperability.
- The objectives of the Mobile Fare Payment and Fare Collection (AFC) system are to provide a state-of-the-art, account-based, open-access, and user-friendly fare collection system capable of accepting currency, convenience passes, transfer tickets, magnetic stripe cards, mobile fare payments and tickets, and account-based smart cards.
- The AFC system should be designed to achieve the following objectives:
• Ease of use for riders.
• Ease of operation for drivers.
• Ease of maintenance for support staff.
• Reliable system performance.
• Accuracy and security of data and information.
• Cost-effective operations; and
• Extended service life of system components.
- The AFC system shall address all phases of fare collection, validation, and processing, including but not limited to:
• Acceptance of cash and other supported fare media.
• Recording each transaction with associated time and location (stop ID), where applicable.
• Accurate compilation of transactional records to support revenue audits and analysis of passenger boarding data.
• Efficient maintenance and management of all AFC hardware and software components.
• Utilization of a consistent onboard cellular network stream to support accurate data collection and minimize antenna deployment.
• Support for account-based smart cards, prepaid cards, and mobile devices using QR codes or Near Field Communication (NFC), and other contactless payment methods.
• Maintenance or improvement of passenger boarding speeds.
• Provision of accurate, auditable fare revenue accounting accessible to each Agency; and
• Optional support for ticket vending machines and point-of-sale solutions.
- Improve the Ridership Data Management Process
• Generate highly accurate ridership information at the route and run level without manual data editing.
• Capture a GPS location for each ridership transaction.
• Associate GPS locations with established bus stop identifiers.
• Integrate ridership data with the Route Match suite of software.
• Validate driver log-on and route/run entries against the RouteMatch database.
• Integrate ticket vending machines, point-of-sale devices, and online sales into a centrally monitored fare collection system; and
• Track the usage and effectiveness of fare media distributed for marketing and community outreach purposes.
- Reporting and Analytics - Provide a system capable of generating user-defined periodic reports, including transaction volume, fare revenue, and financial and operational reports related to system performance.
- Contract Period/Term: 3 years
- A Non-Mandatory Pre-Proposal Meeting Date: January 22, 2026
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: February 06, 2026
