Cubic Transportation Systems to Modernize Minneapolis-St Paul Metro Transit Fare Payment

Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) has been awarded a significant contract by Metro Transit of Minneapolis-St. Paul to upgrade and modernize the region's Go-To Contactless Fare System. The upgrades will enable contactless bank card acceptance, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, allowing riders to seamlessly pay fares without needing a dedicated smart card.

For those riders who do not wish to use bank-issued products, the Go-To card will be enhanced with an account management system, allowing them to load fare products through various channels. The new regional system is designed to ensure equity across all user demographics while providing maximum convenience to visitors, occasional, and everyday riders.

The upgrade includes replacing the agency-hosted back-office fare management software with Cubic's enterprise management system in the Microsoft Azure Cloud, providing reduced operating costs and advanced security management. The complete range of fare terminals across the system's 2,000 buses and 140 transit stops will be upgraded with the latest state-of-the-art reader/processor technology to enable the new features supported by the cloud-based system.

Why this matters: The modernization of the fare payment system aims to improve the customer experience and provide more convenient payment options for the region's public transit users. The upgrades will foster a more efficient Metro Transit and enable a broad range of new rider conveniences.

Cubic will also provide application support services for five years from launch. "The new regional system is designed to ensure equity across all user demographics while providing maximum convenience to visitors, occasional, and everyday riders," said a Cubic Transportation Systems spokesperson. The upgrades are set to significantly enhance the transit experience for riders across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area when fully implemented.

Key Takeaways

• Cubic awarded contract to upgrade Minneapolis-St. Paul's contactless fare system.
• Upgrades enable contactless bank card payments, including Apple/Google Pay.
• Go-To card to be enhanced with account management system for non-bank users.
• Cubic to replace agency's fare management software with cloud-based system.
• Upgrades aim to improve customer experience and convenience for transit users.