Santa Maria Transit Launching Contactless Payments, Free Rides for Students

Modeshift announced a partnership with Santa Maria Regional Transit (SMRT) and the launch of the platform and a new mobile application for its public transportation system, which includes all existing fares plus free, mobile-accessible bus passes for local college students.

Modeshift designed and implemented the new system, which includes contactless payment options and trip planning tools for riders, to improve the safety, efficiency, and usability for commuters and students that rely on SMRT.

Modeshift provided both the user-facing technology and the underlying digital mobility infrastructure.

“The COVID-19 pandemic created a need for contactless transit fare collection to encourage social distancing, so Modeshift is proud to work with the City of Santa Maria to create a safer and more accessible mobile application for transit,” said Miroslav Katsarov, CEO of Modeshift.  “Digital transformation will continue to be essential for public transit to meet the shifting preferences of riders, so this is only the beginning.”

SMRT will also offer free bus passes to students attending Allan Hancock College, which will be accessible through the new mobile app. 

“We’re excited to partner with Modeshift to offer a free option for students so that affordable, accessible transit is one less thing to worry about when getting their education,” said Cindy Morrison, Transit Grants & Project Manager of the City of Santa Maria. “Our students are largely dependent on public transit to get to their classes, extracurricular activities, and jobs, so this initiative is very important.”

Features of the mobile app will include:

• Contactless Payments: Riders can easily purchase all fare products for both SMRT routes and BREEZE routes within the application. The SMRT mobile application is now live (free on iTunes and Google Play).
• Electronic Validation: Users can redeem their fares by scanning a QR code at electronic validators installed on 35 buses across the city.
• Trip Planner Functionality: Information is integrated from vehicle location and dispatch systems so riders can easily plan their trip while on the go.

Modeshift’s digital mobility infrastructure offers capabilities for the further expansion of the system to all public transportation needs, including MaaS options.