The MBTA and transit mobile ticketing pioneer, Masabi US Ltd, announced
in April that they will offer mobile ticketing to commuter rail riders
starting in the fall.
The project will allow customers to buy the passes using an app on an iPhone, Android or Blackberry.
Over the weekend, the MBTA launched the first piece of the project by
creating a sign up page for commuters looking to get in on the action.
The site, http://www.mbta.com/fares_and_passes/passes/MobileTicketing/,
asks rail riders to enter their email address and select their commuter
line of choice.
Those who sign up will be the first to get project updates and notification once the mobile app is available, according to MBTA
spokesman Joe Pesaturo.
As work progresses on the apps this summer, the MBTA will draw from the
list of commuter rail customers who sign up for focus groups and
customer testing.
The T will also reach out to customers who register to be part of a pilot program in the early fall.
According to MBTA officials, less than half of MBTA’s 140 Commuter Rail
stations have fare vending machines, forcing customers to pay for
tickets on board.
MBTA officials have said the move to mobile ticketing will save the
transit agency money, because they won’t have to purchase additional
ticket kiosks at stations around the state.
