Apple Pay Coming to Transit Systems in Philadelphia, San Diego, Boston, and More Cities Between 2020-2023

As far as Boston goes, the MBTA just cancelled their automatic fare collection 2.0 system, and the entire contract will have to be renegotiated or ditched. So if we even have a pilot of any sort by 2022, I’ll eat my hat.

As much as I’d love this and want it yesterday, we have far more pressing priorities; such as the old trains falling apart, the new trains falling apart, stations on fire, the third rail igniting if a trash rat even looks at it, elevators out of service, anything with wheels derailing with regularity, anything without wheels also derailing with regularity, a carrier-pigeon based signaling system from the 1890s, and a state government that’d rather rebuild seven stretches of highway before even deigning to tangentially acknowledge our public transportation crisis.

When I email Clipper (San Francisco Bay Area transit card used for all busses/trains) when Apple Pay/Apple Wallet will be coming I got this reply:

We are Clipper card and you can purchase Clipper card at many different retailers, if you can use Apple Wallet at one of those retailers you can purchase Clipper cards and add value onto the Clipper card there. In order to see the different locations where you can purchase a Clipper card you can go to our website at www.clippercard.com ('http://www.clippercard.com/') and look up retailers. I hope this information is helpful for you to be able to use your Apple Wallet for your transit needs. Also, we do not deal with ticket sales of the individual transit systems that would be a question for whatever transit you are interested in.

They clearly have absolutely no clue about technology, which is very frustrating being in one of the biggest tech hubs in the world.

This is already in place in Japan with suica cards where I recently traveled and it made things so much easier. Tap and go. Even if the phone is asleep. Kept everything in one place so easy to review my travels.

Knowing Septa, this ain't happening for another 10 years.

Just support local transport cards instead of this, I can pay my fare with Apple pay if I want to now.

Realistically, the MBTA will start working on this project come 2033.

When I email Clipper (San Francisco Bay Area transit card used for all busses/trains) when Apple Pay/Apple Wallet will be coming I got this reply:



They clearly have absolutely no clue about technology, which is very frustrating being in one of the biggest tech hubs in the world.

Lol I’m chuckling at this response., of course it isn’t about using Apple Pay to buy a clipper card

Did you speak with Los Angeles Metro? MacRumors reported about a year ago that it would be enabled by end of 2019, but that hasn't happened, nor has there been any official word from LA Metro on it coming soon.

Here's the old article:
https://www.macrumors.com/2019/01/25/los-angeles-transit-apple-pay-plans/

I honestly forgot LA. Just sent them an email and will provide an update if I receive a response.

Not sure about that other article as I didn't write it.

Wonderful. This is a great comvienence.

As far as Boston goes, the MBTA just cancelled their automatic fare collection 2.0 system, and the entire contract will have to be renegotiated or ditched. So if we even have a pilot of any sort by 2022, I’ll eat my hat.

As much as I’d love this and want it yesterday, we have far more pressing priorities; such as the old trains falling apart, the new trains falling apart, stations on fire, the third rail igniting if a trash rat even looks at it, elevators out of service, anything with wheels derailing with regularity, anything without wheels also derailing with regularity, a carrier-pigeon based signaling system from the 1890s, and a state government that’d rather rebuild seven stretches of highway before even deigning to tangentially acknowledge our public transportation crisis.

Is it because Cubic is expensive and a ripoff? S&B seems to be fine just needs software upgrades. They can support it easily by allowing CharlieCards right in Apple Pay, and an app that lets you reload with the virtual card - like DC is doing. No need for the fancy credit card one until they can afford it.

also S&B is used in Phoenix and Toronto and these systems are getting upgraded not ripped out like Cubic wants.