Biz Briefs covers the latest moves in the industry. Here's the latest from Cubic, Masabi, and The Routing Company.

NEORide, Masabi Extend Partnership

NEORide, the Council of Governments representing 31 transit agencies across seven states, announced a new multi-year contract continuing its partnership with Masabi, following a successful launch in 2019.

The partnership between NEORide and Masabi has been instrumental in the development and delivery of EZfare, the leading fare payment platform now used by 15 transit agencies across Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

With this new contract, both organizations are poised to continue their collaborative efforts to deliver innovative solutions for transit agencies and their riders across the Midwest and beyond. Masabi’s open platform approach will see the continued deployment of advanced features such as account-based ticketing, open payments, mobility app integrations, fare capping, rewards, hardware integrations and more.

The enhancements will streamline the transit experience, offering riders across participating EZfare agencies smarter and more convenient ways to access and pay for public transit locally and regionally.

Routing Co. Launches New Service in Ohio

The Routing Company (TRC) celebrated the Chillicothe Transit System’s (CTS) launch of new service in Chillicothe, Ohio. The new service includes 22 vehicles that provide on-demand, fixed route, and paratransit service — all powered by TRC’s Pingo™ platform.

The partnership was first announced in December 2023 and marks TRC’s first order through the five-year Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) State Contract, where TRC is named (in partnership with Optibus) to provide scheduling and dispatch software across Ohio.

The ODOT contract allows Ohio transit agencies to use the State Contract to purchase TRC products through a streamlined procurement process.

MCTS, Cubic Team to Launch BRT Prepayment

The Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) and Cubic’s UMO have launched prepayment on the CONNECT 1 BRT line to speed up the boarding process.

Riders at each of the stations along the CONNECT 1’s nine-mile route must have their fare ready and scan that fare at the station before they board the bus. Riders will scan their fare on a validator located directly on the station platform.

When riders pay their fare, it enables MCTS to continue to invest in improving service. Fare revenue accounted for 17% of MCTS’s budget in 2023.