BC Transit, Cubic’s Umo Roll Out Contactless Payment Capabilities

BC Transit is bringing the Umo platform to over 900 buses across more than 30 transit systems, increasing British Columbians’ access to transit. The public transit agency will soon have a single electronic fare collection solution, making public transit a safer, more convenient option for its many local communities.

BC Transit, the provincial Crown corporation responsible for coordinating public transit services, in all areas outside of Metro Vancouver, awarded a contract to Cubic Transportation Systems for the Umo platform.

The introduction of Umo will open the door for riders to use contactless pre-paid fare products and contactless open payment technologies such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and contactless credit and debit cards.

With Umo’s mobile app and reloadable smart card, BC Transit will also offer pre-paid stored value and pass products so that riders can easily purchase with a mobile device, new web portal, or retailer and board simply by scanning their mobile device or tapping their card.

“Cubic has a nearly 20-year history in British Columbia through our partnership with Vancouver’s metro transit authority TransLink,” said Jeff Lowinger, president of Cubic Transportation Systems. “We are excited to expand our partnership to BC Transit and deliver an electronic fare collection system that will ensure riders across the province have a seamless experience.”

The migration to contactless payments will offer greater convenience to riders while improving safety and security by reducing reliance on cash, automating means of fare purchase, improving onboard cleanliness by reducing farebox touchpoints, and decreasing driver interaction following recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. In turn, this migration will increase ridership for British Columbia’s interregional transit by utilizing Umo’s tools to administer promotions and programs.

The project will expand Cubic’s existing footprint in British Columbia outward from Metro Vancouver. Serviced by Cubic’s existing customer, TransLink, the migration will serve small towns and adjacent urban centers, enabling better linkages between the provinces’ principal public transit agencies, BC Transit and TransLink.

The new system will be implemented in transit systems and interregional routes in two phases, initially enabling mobile app and reloadable smart card payment methods throughout the province before payment by credit card, debit card, and mobile wallets will be enabled. The Victoria Regional Transit System has been selected for the system’s pilot project and first transit system implementation and can expect to see the system come on board by fall 2022.