METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

MBTA mobile ticketing sales reach $1M

In just less than three months, over 100,000 tickets have been purchased by more than 35,000 unique users using the ‘mTicket’ smartphone app.

January 22, 2013
1 min to read


The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) mobile ticketing platform for riders reached $1 million in sales since its introduction system-wide on November 28, 2012.

In just less than three months, over 100,000 tickets have been purchased by more than 35,000 unique users using the ‘mTicket’ smartphone app. This means that customers are able to purchase passes for both the commuter rail and ferry service right from their phones — anytime, anywhere. They also are able to use their passes from their phones, eliminating a significant amount of waste from paper ticketing.

“The development and implementation of mobile ticketing for our commuter rail customers represents not only an improvement in service and convenience, but also in the way we are collecting revenue,” said Dr. Beverly Scott, GM of the MBTA. “We are still early in the effort but we feel we are saving thousands by not installing expensive vending machines, saving on ticket production and eliminating cash transactions — all while making riders commutes easier.”

In January alone, the number of unique visitors on an average weekday is 4,100 — up over 1,000 from usage in December. Almost 50,000 unique transactions have taken place and that number is only expected to grow as adoption increases and customers utilize the convenience of the ‘mTicket’ for their daily commutes or weekend excursions.

More Rail

A user demonstrating Metrolink's contactless fare payment pilot.
Technologyby StaffJune 12, 2026

Southern California's Metrolink Debuts Contactless Fare Payment Pilot

Customers traveling between Redlands and Los Angeles can now tap their preferred payment method, including a credit or debit card, mobile wallet, or wearable device, at station validators before boarding and again while exiting.

Read More →
A BART train on the tracks.
Managementby StaffJune 12, 2026

California's BART Approves FY27 Budget While Maintaining Service Levels

The budget covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, a period when pandemic emergency funds run out, the District faces a structural deficit of $375 million, and a regional transit funding measure may appear on the November ballot.

Read More →
A rendering of the Amtrak New York Penn Station renovation
Railby StaffJune 9, 2026

Penn Station Transformation Advances with Design Unveiling

The historic redesign will transform the busiest transit hub in the Western Hemisphere from the tracks to the street level, creating a more efficient, cleaner, and functional experience for more than 600,000 daily commuters and millions of visitors.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Groundbreaking event for Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 TBM construction.
Railby StaffJune 9, 2026

Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 Advances into Major Construction Stage

New York Governor Kathy Hochul joined leadership from the MTA, elected officials, and Harlem community leaders to break ground on the major construction stage of the transformative Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 project.

Read More →
A man sits in a passenger rail seat and looks at his phone.
Railby Elora HaynesJune 8, 2026

The Invisible Infrastructure of Passenger Flow

What a seat reservation system on Austria’s Railjet trains reveals about the future of rider experience, and why U.S. agencies should pay attention.

Read More →
Aerial view of Caltrain's electric service.
Railby StaffJune 5, 2026

Caltrain Board Approves FY27 Budget, Endorses Efficiency Measures

The move ensures Caltrain service will continue operating as usual in the near term, but long-term financial challenges remain for the rail agency absent a new revenue source.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Alstom purchasing site for Acela network manufacturing
Railby StaffJune 4, 2026

Alstom Acquires Delaware Site to Support Amtrak NextGen Acela Fleet

The company is investing more than $55 million to acquire and improve the property and will employ approximately 100 people at this site once it is operational.

Read More →
World Cup Crowds Will Test Transit Systems
ManagementJune 3, 2026

When Routine Fails: How Public Transit Must Adapt for the World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will test transit agencies’ ability to manage unpredictable travel patterns, making real-time data and operational flexibility critical to moving millions of visitors efficiently.

Read More →
A rendering of a California High-Speed Rail vehicle
Railby StaffJune 2, 2026

California Selects Team for Nation’s First True High-Speed Rail Track and Systems Contract

The board action follows completion of track installation at the 150-acre southern railhead in Kern County, which will serve as the staging and distribution hub for high-speed track and systems installation.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Sound Transit Sounder train
Railby StaffJune 2, 2026

Seattle's Sound Transit Launches New Sounder Railcars into Service

Alstom manufactured all the cars under a $46.5 million contract and came into service in anticipation of summer crowds for soccer and baseball.

Read More →