Customers will greatly benefit from the open, account-based system which will provide them greater mobility and more convenient payment options for travel throughout the Central Puget Sound Region.
Sound Transit
2 min to read
Customers will greatly benefit from the open, account-based system which will provide them greater mobility and more convenient payment options for travel throughout the Central Puget Sound Region.
Sound Transit
INIT, Innovations in Transportation Inc. was contracted by the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority (Sound Transit) to deliver the next generation ORCA electronic fare system for the Central Puget Sound Region.
The next-generation ORCA system will revolutionize the Central Puget Sound’s transit customer experience by providing real-time account-management and fare processing, as well as the opportunity for customers to instantly add value to their account and to use mobile devices to pay fares.
Ad Loading...
INIT will replace the legacy ORCA system with a modern, account-based and open architecture fare system designed for multiple modes of transportation, including fixed-route buses, light rail, commuter rail, streetcars, ferries, and water taxis. Sound Transit is procuring the ORCA system on behalf of the member agencies: Community Transit, Everett Transit, King County Metro, Kitsap Transit, Pierce Transit, and Washington State Ferries.
The next gen ORCA system will be comprised of approximately 2,900 onboard fare validators and driver displays, 1,000 wayside station fare validators, and over 250 fare vending machines. INIT fare validators are PCI- and EMV-certified for the acceptance of contactless cards as well as virtual cards stored in a mobile app.
INIT will be expanding its operations by opening a development center in the Pacific Northwest as part of this project and to help further serve growing project needs up and down the West Coast.
The core of the next-gen ORCA system will be INIT’s central management tool, MOBILEvario. MOBILEvario will manage and process fares in real-time, recognize and process revenue-sharing, as well as manage accounts and automate reconciliation for all seven agencies.
INIT’s open architecture platform will also allow for additional transport solutions such as bike-share, car-share, and Transportation Network Companies to fully integrate with the next gen ORCA system in future project phases, providing Central Puget Sound transportation customers with options for a full end-to-end mobility solution.
A major goal of the pilot, which begins in April, is to test the speed, functionality, and durability of new handheld devices to scan Ventra and paper tickets.
Traditionally, bus lane enforcement has relied on manual processes carried out by transit police or parking enforcement officers. While it may be effective in certain municipalities, this approach is resource-intensive and very difficult to sustain.
A phased approach to technology, in-house capabilities, and workforce investment is helping transportation leaders break the reactive cycle and build more resilient, revenue-focused operations.
The landmark event empowers riders across six agencies in the Puget Sound region to tap-and-ride transit using a contactless credit or debit card or a mobile wallet.
Now in its latest edition, the awards recognize forward-thinking solutions that improve safety, operational efficiency, sustainability, rider experience, and overall system performance.
Menard discusses how data-driven signal prioritization is improving efficiency, reliability, and ridership, while offering insight into the innovations driving the next generation of smart mobility. Together, they explore how technology and collaboration are paving the way for a more connected, sustainable future in transit.
The pilot program showcases two companies’ technology at eight bus stops. The companies submitted their ideas through the Transit Tech Lab, which is backed by the Partnership Fund for New York City and provides an accelerated pathway for early to growth-stage companies to solve public transportation challenges for the largest transit agencies in North America.
