2025 Conference Agenda

· Identify key obstacles in the ticketing and payment industry’s technology adoption and discuss how fostering a culture of innovation can overcome them. 

· Evaluate technology trends that will impact the next decade of ticketing and payments, including the increasing adoption of Central Bank Digital Currencies, blockchain, AI and biometrics. 

· Explore the benefits these new technologies can bring to mobility networks and their users; and consider what the passenger experience could look and feel like in 2035 

· How can these innovations be harnessed to solve long-term challenges such as fare equity and inclusion, and seamless multimodal travel? 

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has been embarking on this transformative journey to modernize the fare collection system, with enhancements to customer experience and operational efficiency. We will take a closer look into the strategic initiatives and technological advancements, by exploring why this was important to us and our riders, our legacy model and the partnership with PRESTO, business and operational impacts, finally our challenges and lessons learned. Join us to discover future endeavors that will continue to propel the TTC’s journey to become more efficient, equitable and customer friendly.

Launching open-loop payment in a high revenue environment, such as intercity passenger rail in the United States, which has traditionally relied upon Amtrak’s national ticketing, was tailor-made for a pilot program, where many lessons could be learned. The Capitol Corridor Joint Power Authority (CCJPA) took this on, affecting every department. Now, CCJPA is at a point where open-loop payments are poised to expand, but as always, with additional lessons learned and shared in this session.

· 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?

· Examine the coexistence of closed-loop and open-loop fare payment systems, highlighting benefits, challenges and innovations for transit agencies

· Analyse key differences between closed-loop and open-loop systems focusing on aspects such as control, security, equity and cost-efficiency

· Practical insights and strategies for implementing and integrating both systems to enhance fare collection.

AI is eating the world, in all industries and across all aspects of business. What does it mean for the movement of people in public transit and the agencies who operate the infrastructure?  Join us in this fireside chat with two industry leaders to learn how AI offers riders improved user experience with contactless payment options, increases revenue collections, improves operational efficiencies, and potentially provides possibilities to usher in a new age of multi-modal mobility to improve rider’s journey seamlessly.

· Explore how ABT can enhance the travel experience by enabling seamless multi-modal journeys with a single account and discuss the benefits this integration brings to riders  

· Address the technical, financial and operational challenges agencies face when adopting ABT systems and identify solutions to streamline the transition    

· Examine how agencies can leverage real-time fare collection during vendor negotiations to turn ABT implementation challenges into strategic advantages

· Discuss strategies to enhance the passenger experience through ABT without losing key features like accurate fare calculation, enforcement and customer consistency

· The adoption of mobile ticketing and digital wallets 

· Delivering a mobile first ticketing strategy: QR, virtualized cards, mobile apps and mobile top-ups  

· Explore how card virtualisation technology is transforming the way commuters' access, pay & use transit services, making mobility more convenient and user-friendly  

· Ensuring seamless integration, safeguarding data and overcoming technical challenges in mobile ticketing  

· Addressing the digital divide and ensuring mobile ticketing solutions cater to all passengers, including those without smartphones  

· Identify current trends in fare evasion, understand the impact of fraudulent travel and revenue loss and explore effective strategies to mitigate both challenges.   

· Discuss how data analytics, AI and other innovative initiatives can help in detecting and preventing revenue leakage within transit systems   

· Analyze how revenue protection measures can provide assurance to customers, consider when enforcement costs might outweigh benefits and explore public perceptions of fare evasion  

· Discuss how coordination, knowledge sharing and partnership work can reduce fare evasion. 

· Explore collaborative strategies across agencies, vendors and consultants to ensure fare collection projects exceed expectations through trust, communication and shared accountability

· Gain diverse perspectives on breaking down silos and fostering cross-departmental alignment to support success at every project level

· Learn best practices for building strong partnerships that bridge gaps between stakeholders, promote transparency and drive alignment toward shared goals