INIT, OCTA launch mobile e-fare system

Earlier this month, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) launched the system-wide e-fare project, OC Bus Mobile. OCTA’s modernization to e-fare started with a mobile ticketing app and the implementation of INIT fare validators on more than 530 fixed-route buses. With OC bus mobile, riders can now scan a QR code from their smartphones on the INIT validators to pay for fares when boarding.

INIT’s e-fare validators are fully capable of accepting open payments — contactless credit cards, debit EMV, and near-field communication devices, a goal that aligns with OCTA’s future plans.

The e-fare system is expected to greatly improve the customer experience by providing a more convenient fare payment option for riders, simplifying transit use, and allowing for potential future regional fare integration.