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Bringing you unmissable content at the home of fare collection innovation in North America. 

Bringing you unmissable content at the home of fare collection innovation in North America. 

Transport Ticketing North America is the key event for fare collection and passenger experience in North America, gathering over 350 transit professionals. Through in-depth case studies from leading operators, engaging presentations, and panel discussions, this gathering is the platform for transit professionals to set the agenda for the year ahead. Take a look at the conference program from this year's event. 

Register your interest now     View Speakers

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09:00
  1. Theatre 1
    45 mins
    • Explore how emerging technologies like contactless payments, mobile ticketing and digital wallets are reshaping transit ticketing systems  

    • How can ticketing and fare policy be used to help meet agency or operator strategic objectives?  

    • How do we optimise ROI in ticketing? 

    • What substantial technological advancements will be applied to ticketing in the next 5 years and when will they be deployed in the field? Discuss the potential of AI-driven algorithms and data analytics 

09:45
  1. Theatre 1
    20 mins
    The MTA’s OMNY system captured its first one billion taps over a four-year period from May 2019 to July 2023. In the year since, it has already captured another 600 million taps with riders tapping now at a rate of 2.6 million times per weekday. Almost 100% of those taps are made with bankcards and digital wallets.  Building on the positive momentum of OMNY’s success with open payments, we’ll first take a brief look back at the elements needed to introduce transit open payments and launch OMNY.  And then we’ll open up the conversation about what remains to make transit open payments great for all parties in the fare payments ecosystem.
10:05
  1. Coffee & Networking Break
    30 mins
10:35
  1. THE EVOLUTION OF OPEN AND CLOSED-LOOP TICKETING
    Theatre 1
    5 mins
10:40
  1. Theatre 1
    20 mins

    The Ventra Program has been at the cutting edge of fare collection innovation since 2013, from being one of the first account-based systems in the country allowing open payments, to a partnership with Apple and Google allowing you to tap your cell phone to pay for transit via the Ventra Mobile App and Digital Wallets. Now, Ventra is in the design and build phase of a project that will move the entire system to the cloud and enable even more convenience for Chicago transit riders. We will present a timeline to walk though the evolution of Ventra and into the future leveraging partnerships and innovation.

11:00
  1. Theatre 1
    20 mins

    This year the CTA is installing new fareboxes on over 1,800 buses that will be integrated with other bus systems for more efficient operations. In parallel, the agency we will be piloting new Ventra fare equipment on buses and at rail stations to upgrade card readers, vending machines, and retail devices. The collaboration and logistics of managing these projects, in tandem with other agency driven objectives, will be discussed.

11:20
  1. Theatre 1
    40 mins
    • Discuss how agencies can maximize the benefits of an ABT solution, and improve the passenger experience, without sacrificing key features that customers and staff have come to rely on.  

    • Address the complexities and hurdles that agencies and operators face when transitioning to ABT systems, including technical, financial and operational challenges.    

    • Examine the role of both closed-loop and open-loop payment options in modern ABT solutions  

    • Identify key considerations in developing and executing a successful ABT transition strategy with your solution provider. 

11:55
  1. OPEN LOOP PAYMENTS – THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UNKOWN
    Theatre 1
    5 mins
12:00
  1. Theatre 1
    20 mins
    In May of 2021, Monterey-Salinas Transit became one of the first public transit agencies in the U.S. to roll-out a contactless, open-loop payment system for fare collection. Along the way, the agency encountered global supply chain issues, cellular network challenges, technology leadership changes, and a switch in vendors. Hear Michael discuss these, as well as the lessons learned; and why making such a fundamental change in the way the public can purchase their fares was absolutely worth the effort.
12:20
  1. Theatre 1
    20 mins
    The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System is in the final stages of open payment implementation. This session will explore the lessons learned and next steps.
13:00
  1. Networking and Lunch
    60 mins
14:00
  1. OPEN LOOP PAYMENTS – THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UNKOWN
    Theatre 1
    30 mins

    Open loop is becoming a popular fare-payments option for agencies in North America. But some are not fully aware of what they will need to pay to offer the service.  

    •   Which costs should agencies rolling out open-loop payments be prepared for (and sometimes are not)? Merchant-service fees? Keeping terminals certified? Fraud and chargebacks? 

    • Regular interchange rates for transit agencies accepting open loop are some of the highest in the world. Should payments networks offer a special interchange rate for transit agencies? 

    • Do agencies lose an important part of their connection to their customers when they roll out open loop? 

    • Can agencies trust the financial industry to handle all their fares, or should they hedge their bets with closed loop?  

    • Most experts believe agencies still need closed loop; does this tend to limit use of open loop to visitors and other occasional riders 

14:30
  1. DELIVERING A BETTER CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
    Theatre 1
    20 mins
    Today, PRESTO offers one of the most globally advanced fare payment systems in the world, having delivered leading innovation with the launch of new ways to pay for customers. With PRESTO's Open Payment credit and Interac debit solution and PRESTO in Google Wallet we are giving our customers more choice than ever before to make transit travel easier, but these complex launches also mean successfully working through challenges. This presentation will explore how a 'Customer first, Customer now' mindset continues to drive PRESTO towards innovation that is making transit better for all.
14:50
  1. Theatre 1
    20 mins
    What is best for customers in a highly connected region? This session will explore the challenges and opportunities of providing customers with seamless payment journeys across multiple transit operators that includes; regional transfers and passes, a diverse multimodal environment, a variety of geographic densities, all while incorporating several discount categories. As a case study we will explore how Clipper has been delivering a contactless closed loop system to the entire Bay Area for nearly 20 years and is on the doorstep of delivering a modern account-based system that incorporates open payments to almost 8 million people over a 7,000-square-mile area.
15:40
  1. Coffee & Networking Break
    Theatre 1
    30 mins
16:10
  1. FARE EVASION, FRAUD AND REVENUE PROTECTION
    Theatre 1
    40 mins
    • Are transit agencies accurately measuring journey fraud/fare evasion and how big an issue is this for transit agencies?   

    • What are the current trends in fare evasion? What is the balance between fraudulent travel and revenue leakage? What are the current approaches to mitigate both?    

    • Discuss how data analytics, AI and other technologies can be leveraged to detect and prevent revenue leakage. 

    • What can agencies do to combat journey fraud/fare evasion better, across all modes of travel?    

16:50
  1. REDUCED AND FREE FARES – THE GOLDEN TICKET TO INCREASING RIDERSHIP?
    Theatre 2
    40 mins
    • Discuss how reduced and free fares can make public transportation more accessible to low-income individuals and marginalized communities, potentially increasing ridership among these groups 

    • Debate the long-term financial viability of implementing reduced and free fare programs, considering potential revenue losses and alternative funding sources to support increased ridership. Is fare capping an economically naïve approach?  

    • Explore how fare policies influence commuter behaviour and perceptions of public transportation, examining whether reduced or free fares alone are sufficient to drive significant increases in ridership. 

08:55
  1. UNLOCKING THE FUTURE OF TRANSIT WITH MOBILE-BASED TICKETING
    Theatre 1
    5 mins
09:20
  1. Theatre 1
    40 mins
    • What is the next generation of mobile-based ticketing solutions? 

    • Discuss the best solution for your agency and find out how some of these solutions can be implemented cost-effectively at a benefit for the user    

    • How can small and mid-sized agencies offer mobile ticketing in a modular and cost-effective manner     

10:00
  1. WHAT IS OPEN ARCHITECTURE AND HOW DO YOU ACHIEVE IT?
    Theatre 2
    50 mins
    • Identify the key elements of an open architecture solution and the benefit such a solution can provide. 

    • Examine various approaches for achieving an open architecture, including what agencies should be asking of vendors and the effects on system procurement strategy. 

    • Explore best practices and lessons learned in the design, delivery, and validation of open architecture solutions.  

    • Discuss the ways in which the move to an open architecture is changing how vendors and agencies are building and using modern payment solutions. 

10:50
  1. Coffee & Networking Break
    30 mins
11:20
  1. INCENTIVIZING EQUITY IN THE US
    Theatre 1
    20 mins
    Close to 30% of Californians are either underbanked or unbanked. They have no access to credit and often use cash and non-bank payment methods to avoid the minimum balance requirements and high fees of US banks. This poses a significant hurdle to digital payment acceptance for merchants, such as the 250+ transit agencies in California, with smaller transactions that need to process in rapid succession. Cal-ITP is a group of initiatives and strategies to incentivize acceptance and use of customer-friendly, open payment methods, including for customers who are entitled to a price discount.
11:40
  1. Theatre 1
    50 mins

    Open loop payments present an opportunity to engage and educate un/under banked transit riders about digital payment options.

    • How can transit agencies leverage partnerships with banks and credit unions to benefit riders?
    • Is this too far beyond the scope of what a transit agency should do? Are transit riders interested in banking products through their agency?
12:30
  1. Networking and Lunch 
    60 mins
13:30
  1. DELIVERING MAAS FOR MASSES
    Theatre 1
    20 mins
    TransLink's first Shared Mobility Pilot underscored the need for simplicity in encouraging Metro Vancouver residents to embrace multi-modal travel over personal vehicles. Building on these insights and in collaboration with the same shared mobility partners, we've now launched RideLink, a pilot app featuring easy bike and carshare registration, booking, and billing, real-time transit and vehicle status, and multi-modal trip planning, with TransLink's Compass Card as the key that unlocks it all. In this session we explore the collaborative effort to extend our card-based Compass system with trusted local companies and deliver sustainable mobility solutions for our rapidly growing and increasingly congested community.
13:50
  1. Theatre 1
    20 mins

    Its been a 3 year journey that started as a small pilot in DuPage county and is now one of the most successful on demand ADA travel programs in the country.  Hear how Pace created a same day ADA ride program that allows riders to travel anywhere across the entire ADA service area with a seamless booking and payment process.  

14:40
  1. 50 mins
    • What is the role of public agencies?  What is the best roadmap for MaaS?
    • What are the lessons learned from implementation?
    • What are the biggest hurdles?
    • What is the sustainable financial structure to support MaaS? How are you funding them today?
15:30
  1. Theatre 1
    30 mins
    Rewards programs have been used by private mobility providers and some transit agencies. With open loop payments, transit agencies can leverage global tools for comprehensive rewards systems that benefit riders and meet transit agency goals. Some transit agencies are also experimenting with rewards programs to distribute mobility benefits more effectively. This session will look at how transportation agencies can achieve goals for both residents and state agencies:  Improve transportation affordability by effectively distributing benefits to those who need them, Encourage a broader adoption of sustainable transit options by allowing users to receive or use their rewards across multiple mobility modes, and Foster collaboration between transit providers and market players by employing proven concepts running on secure, regulated, standardized technology from the retail world. 
16:00
  1. Theatre 1
    5 mins
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Join us to network, learn and connect with senior fare collection and transit professionals next June. 

Register your interest now 

Meet the Speakers

Meet the Speakers

Browse the list of expert speakers who took to the stage for 2024.

2024 Speakers



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