Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) and Brockton Area Transit Authority (BAT) are the first two transit agencies in Massachusetts to implement BusPlus, a mobile ticketing solution provided by Bytemark.

BusPlus makes travel easier for riders by offering a cashless option to purchase single-ride and monthly tickets electronically. The solution is also employed by two local shuttle services, Middlesex 3 and 128 Business Council.

Before the rollout of BusPlus, PVTA and BAT riders could add stored value to fare cards, purchase tickets at customer service windows, or buy a day pass on the bus. Now, they can use their mobile devices or go online, to get tickets at any time of day or night.

In addition to benefiting riders, BusPlus offers advantages to the transit agencies themselves. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, touchless ticketing options decrease unnecessary person-to-person contact as drivers look at a rider’s phone to visually verify the ticket, reducing the need to handle cash or tickets. Cashless systems also promote shorter dwell times.

BusPlus will provide the PVTA and BAT with extensive data on fare collection, which they can use to improve their services.