Sandusky Transit rolls out new ticketing system

SANDUSKY — A new ticketing system can ensure faster trips on Sandusky Transit buses and shorter wait times for passengers. In an ongoing effort to make operations more efficient, the public transportation system recently rolled out a new mobile ticketing system. Tom Horsman, the city's assistant planner, provided some context into the overall process: • The initial breakthrough: "Last summer, Sandusky Transit joined NEORide, which is a consortium of 16 transit agencies across Ohio, Kentucky and Michigan that work to streamline operations and make it easier for riders to use public transit across the region." • The launch: "Last fall, NEORide launched EZfare, which is a mobile ticketing app that allows you to buy your bus passes right on your phone. EZfare is also integrated into other apps, such as the Transit app, Moovit and even Uber. If someone opens the Uber app in Sandusky, for example, they will now see directions to their destination, via transit, and they can also buy their Sandusky Transit bus pass right through the app." • The benefits: "The passes on EZfare are the same cost as the paper passes and cash fares that Sandusky Transit System also offers. EZfare makes it easier for riders to pay for their bus fare so that they don't need exact change to ride, and they can buy monthly passes without having to come down to City Hall to purchase them." • The next step: "The second phase of EZfare is installing mobile ticketing validators in our buses. Currently, bus drivers must visually inspect the mobile EZfare tickets to ensure that they are valid. The validators will allow riders to scan the mobile pass on their phone, and it will make boarding quicker and more efficient. It will also allow us to have data about ridership trends to help us plan the transit system to be more efficient. The validators have the capability to eventually accept smart cards and contactless bank cards." • The cost: "The cost of the validators, $67,770, is fully covered by grants from the Ohio Department of Transportation and Federal Transit Administration." • The study: "As part of the project, Sandusky Transit is participating in a federally funded study with other NEORide transit agencies to find ways to make fare payment on transit even easier, especially for those who may not have access to a bank account. This is an exciting project, and we are grateful to be part of the great team at NEORide in helping to break down barriers for people riding transit. We expect EZfare to continue to grow in popularity on Sandusky Transit, and we hope that it will also attract new riders who may not have felt comfortable using the system before."