Why EMTA is making changes to the way it collects digital fares

The Erie Metropolitan Transportation Authority will soon make it even easier for riders to pay fares without cash.
The region’s largest transit agency has announced that it is updating its app-based digital fare collection process, starting April 13. That system has been in place for the last five years.
Here are more details about the upgrade and what it means for EMTA riders.
What changes will riders see?
New mobile fare validators have been installed at the front of all of EMTA’s fixed-route buses that will accept mobile fares via QR code through the Token Transit app. That app allows riders to pay for fares with their mobile devices.
Previous onboard validators collected digital fare payments from riders through the app using Bluetooth technology.
The QR codes will refresh every 10 seconds to prevent misuse. The new fare validators can also accept tap-to-pay fares from riders who use credit cards, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Visit https://ride-the-e.com/apps to download the Token Transit app for iPhone or Android devices.
Do app users have to do anything to prepare for the switch?
No. The Token Transit app will automatically update in April to generate QR codes that can be read by the new onboard validators.
Can riders still pay fares with cash?
Passengers can still pay fares with cash and/or paper passes. However, EMTA no longer accepts tokens or pennies and does not make change for fares paid in cash.
Why is EMTA making this change?
“These new validators will improve the boarding process and increase accessibility to our regular passengers and those who are new or only ride occasionally,” EMTA’s CEO, Jeremy Peterson, said in a statement.
What is ‘fare capping?’
That feature allows Token Transit users to never pay more than $52 per month no matter how many ride passes they purchase.
According to EMTA, “once a rider has purchased $52 in 1-Ride or Day passes, the app will automatically grant the rider free rides for the rest of the month.”