Canada’s Sault Ste. Marie Transit Taps Umo Contactless Fare Payment Platform

Canada’s Sault Ste. Marie Transit Services finalized its contract with Cubic Transportation Systems (Cubic) to deliver the Umo mobility platform as its new transit fare collection system, improving convenience and access to public transit by embracing contactless fare technology.

Umo facilitates contactless fare payment with smart cards and mobile devices, including multi-ride tickets and pass products that are securely validated using QR code technology. Historically, this type of technology was limited to larger transit systems due to cost and complexity. Umo’s platform approach makes contactless fare payments affordable, scalable, and quick to deploy.

The solution chosen by Sault Ste. Marie consists of the Umo SaaS platform, including new onboard bus mobile validators and new Canadian-made TAG fareboxes. Adoption of contactless payment methods enables agencies to move toward more simple mechanical cash fareboxes, which are less costly upfront and less expensive to manage and maintain. The joint Umo and TAG solution will help improve customer convenience and satisfaction, reduce agency operation and maintenance costs, and provide valuable data to better inform service planning and delivery.

Umo will be deployed to 39 vehicles in Sault Ste. Marie, including 26 conventional buses, two community buses, and 11 paratransit buses. Once implemented, Umo will allow passengers to purchase fares on their mobile device, via passenger web portals and at retail locations. Accepted forms of onboard transit payments include smart cards, paper tokens, and mobile phones. Cash payment will remain an option available to passengers with the new TAG fareboxes to ensure equitable access for everyone.

Sault Ste. Marie’s transit fare collection system project is being funded through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) with contributions from the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, and the Corporation of the City of Sault Ste. Marie.