Transit agencies want open payments but there are challenges

This study explores interest in, and the challenges faced by transit agencies and operators in the adoption of open-loop payment systems. The research team focuses in particular on the ways that agencies view passenger needs in the context of adopting open payments. Challenges with cash payments, an increasingly cashless society, and the expanding offerings of digital payment options have spurred increased interest in open-loop payments among transit operators. Paying for transit with cash can require additional time at boarding, add extra steps for passengers who must pay with exact fare, and result in service inefficiencies. It presents security concerns for drivers, and administrative burdens for agencies. While the full costs of cash handling vary per agency the cost of handling and moving cash may be considerable. Pioneering transit agencies are adopting open payment systems that accept credit cards, debit cards, and smartphone/watch-based transactions. However, there is a huge diversity among transit agencies and as such, agencies face different challenges and to different degrees, when considering the adoption of open payment systems. Challenges can include financial barriers, capacity limitations, technological challenges, the duration of existing contracts, competing needs, and a number of passenger challenges such as lack of credit cards or smartphones. This study uses data collected from California transit agencies in the fall of 2022 that gathered information about agency perceptions of open-loop payments and the challenges with adopting open fare collection systems, and whether assistance programs would benefit transit agencies interested in adopting open-loop payments. Even before the pandemic prompted agencies to consider open and contactless payments, many agencies were exploring this option. Results of the present study indicate that the majority of agencies are considering or have considered implementing open payment systems, but agencies are not fully aware of the assistance available from the California Integrated Travel Program to help in the transition to digital and open payment systems. Key challenges include the cost, as well as the technical needs to implement open payments. Agencies also cited passenger familiarity with technology and ability to have a bank account as potential hurdles. This study sheds light on the challenges facing small to medium transit agencies in the transition of California’s transit systems to open-loop payment systems.

本研究聚焦公共交通机构与运营商对开放式支付系统（open-loop payment systems）的采用兴趣，以及其在落地该系统过程中面临的各类挑战，重点关注公共交通机构在采用开放式支付系统的背景下，如何考量乘客出行需求的相关路径。现金支付存在的诸多弊端、日益普及的无现金社会趋势，以及不断丰富的数字支付选择，共同推高了公共交通运营商对开放式支付系统的关注热情。现金支付乘车会导致乘客上车耗时增加，要求乘客必须准备足额车费，进而降低运营服务效率；同时会为驾驶员带来安全隐患，也会加重公共交通机构的行政负担。尽管各机构的现金处理总成本存在差异，但现金押运与处理的成本往往不菲。先行先试的公共交通机构已开始采用支持信用卡、借记卡以及智能手机/智能手表支付的开放式支付系统。但不同公共交通机构之间存在显著差异，因此其在考虑采用开放式支付系统时，面临的挑战类型与程度均有所不同。此类挑战涵盖财务壁垒、能力局限、技术难题、现有合同期限限制、需求冲突，以及诸多乘客端难题（如缺乏信用卡或智能手机）。本研究使用了2022年秋季从加利福尼亚州公共交通机构收集的调研数据，该调研旨在收集各机构对开放式支付系统的认知、采用开放式票务收款系统面临的挑战，以及相关援助计划是否能惠及有意向采用开放式支付系统的公共交通机构等信息。早在新冠疫情推动公共交通机构考虑采用开放式非接触式支付方案之前，诸多机构就已在探索该选项。本研究结果显示，多数公共交通机构正在或曾考虑部署开放式支付系统，但多数机构尚未充分了解加利福尼亚州综合出行计划（California Integrated Travel Program）可提供的、助力其向数字化与开放式支付系统转型的援助资源。核心挑战涵盖系统部署成本与技术实施需求。此外，公共交通机构还指出，乘客的技术熟悉程度与银行账户持有情况，亦是潜在的实施障碍。本研究进一步阐明了加利福尼亚州公共交通系统向开放式支付系统转型过程中，中小规模公共交通机构所面临的各类挑战。