One gate on the west side of the station has been set up to accept Visa, Mastercard, and smart phones and watches that use Apple Pay or Google Pay loaded with Visa or Mastercard. During the trial period, customers can easily pay an Adult single-ride fare by tapping the specially marked fare gate with their enabled Visa, Mastercard or associated mobile wallet. During the test period, customers paying by credit card or mobile wallet will only be able to transfer to buses inside the fare paid zone at Tunney’s Pasture, Hurdman and Blair Stations. Presto cards remain a payment option.
When the trial wraps up in 2021, OC Transpo expects to roll out the new touchless payment options to all fare gates and buses. We are already working on future upgrades that will bring contactless debit payments to the system.
The trial is a partnership with Scheidt & Bachmann and will give OC Transpo one of the most advanced fare payment systems in Canada. The trial has been fast-tracked so that OC Transpo can offer customers more ways to pay their fare while reducing touch points during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quotes
“I am pleased that OC Transpo is one of the first transit agencies in Canada to offer touchless payment choices to our customers. Even before the pandemic, our residents used cashless payment options more than most other countries in the world. That practice has only increased over the last year. Customers will appreciate the extra convenience and flexibility.”
Mayor Jim Watson
“OC Transpo has led the way in keeping our transit customers safe during the pandemic. We were the first transit system in Canada to make mask-wearing mandatory. Now we are among the first in Canada to make touchless credit card payment available. This will further reduce contact points along the system to keep our customers safe.”
Councillor Alan Hubley, Chair, Transit Commission
“Scheidt & Bachmann is delighted to provide the City of Ottawa with industry leading technology that will enable customers to pay their fare simply by tapping a credit card or mobile wallet. This trial marks an important milestone for Ottawa as they become one of the first cities in Canada to offer a suite of contactless fare payment options to their customers. We are honoured by this opportunity to grow our long-standing partnership with OC Transpo.”
Karen Swanborough, Regional Vice President, Scheidt & Bachmann
You can view OC Transpo’s promotional video.
Visit octranspo.com for more information on the new touchless fare payment options.
