RELATED: Fare payment upgrades leverage latest tech advances
Vix Technology to equip Edmonton transit systems with 'smart' ticketing
The 15-year contract that will move the three cities from a cash and paper-based ticketing system to a common contactless fare payment system utilizing an account-based back office.

The new system will move fare calculations and settlement to the back office, offer payment convenience for riders and allow the three Edmonton metropolitan region cities’ transit agencies to collect real-time data. Image via Vix.

Vix Technology has been selected by three city partners in the Edmonton metropolitan region, which includes the City of Edmonton, Strathcona County and City of St. Albert, to implement a new advanced Regional Smart Fare Solution (RSFS).
The RSFS is a 15-year contract that will move the three cities from a cash and paper-based ticketing system to a common contactless fare payment system utilizing an account-based back office. The RSFS initiative is made up of multiple components, and Vix will design, build, operate, and maintain the entire solution, inclusive of front-end equipment, back-office infrastructure, smart card media and more for the duration of the contract.

The Vix solution will move fare calculations and settlement to the back office, offer payment convenience for riders and allow the three Edmonton metropolitan region cities’ transit agencies to collect real-time data. And with the Vix solution, the open architecture platform allows for scalability and integration and a standards-based approach.
This new system will incorporate open payments, which allows riders flexible payment options, including contactless EMV cards, branded retail prepaid cards, or agency or third party-issued transit cards.
Some of the most recent contracts awarded to Vix include a contract by the Malaysian Government’s public transport regulator (SPAD) to unify payments for the country’s multiple transit operators under a single transport ticketing system, and a new, comprehensive fare payment system for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit.
More Technology

Joshua Schank on Transportation Innovation, Risk, and the Future of Mobility
In this edition of METROspectives, Joshua Schank discusses lessons from launching LA Metro’s Office of Extraordinary Innovation, the challenges of advancing new mobility technologies, and much more.
Read More →
Reinventing Fleet Maintenance with Real-time Visibility and AI
Transit leaders need to know what needs fixing, where to look, who is responsible, when work is completed, and what it costs without having to chase information across disconnected systems.
Read More →
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 →
ABA's Ferguson Testifies in Support of BUS Act, National Standards for Bus Operators
The BUSES Act would create a nationwide framework preventing state and local governments from enforcing bus idling restrictions of less than 15 minutes, a threshold consistent with existing Environmental Protection Agency guidance.
Read More →
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 →
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 →
IndyGo, Cleveland RTA Expand Digital Fare Payment Options with Masabi
The new systems combine mobile apps, smart cards, and automatic fare capping to simplify payments, expand flexibility, and help riders access the lowest available fares.
Read More →
LA Metro Launches New Mobile App, Contactless Payment Options
Available on Metro and at 26 TAP-participating transit agencies, the system reduces waiting times, speeds boarding, and improves convenience systemwide, said the agency.
Read More →Joshua Schank on Transportation Innovation, Risk, and the Future of Mobility
In this edition of METROspectives, the co-author of New Tricks for Old Bureaucracies, discusses lessons from launching LA Metro’s Office of Extraordinary Innovation, the challenges of advancing new mobility technologies, and much more.
Read More →
Biz Briefs: Foothill Gold Line Award, Matawan Contract, and More
From strategic partnerships to acquisitions and service expansions, the industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Find out all the latest here.
Read More →