The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and North County Transit District (NCTD) announced that Express Mode is available for customers using Apple Pay to pay and ride transit.
“Today marks an exciting step forward in making public transit in San Diego more seamless and convenient,” said Stephen Whitburn, MTS Board Chair and San Diego City Councilmember, District 3. “Whether you’re heading to a Padres game, a concert, or simply commuting to your next destination, paying with Apple Pay empowers riders to hop onboard faster. We appreciate having the close collaboration with Apple to bring this feature to our transit systems.”
With Express Mode enabled for debit or credit cards, riders don’t have to wake or unlock their iPhone or Apple Watch, or even open any apps, to pay and ride on MTS buses and Trolleys, and NCTD COASTER, SPRINTER, BREEZE and FLEX services. All users have to do is hold their Apple device near a PRONTO validator to securely pay with Apple Pay.
Express Mode for Apple Pay launches in time for the San Diego Padres Opening Day, San Diego Wave FC home opener, and the third home match for the San Diego FC. This means riders going to Petco Park or Snapdragon Stadium can bypass ticket vending machines, bus fareboxes, and the PRONTO app and instead pay directly when tapping a device at a PRONTO validator.
Users can change which payment method they’d like to use with Express Mode at any time, and once a user has selected which debit or credit card in Apple Wallet that they’d like to use with Express Mode, they can simply hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near an enabled PRONTO validator to ride.
What’s more, power reserve on iPhone enables customers to still use their device to pay and ride transit even if their device needs a charge.
Additionally, fares paid via Apple Pay are eligible for free transfers during the two-hour period on most modes after the first boarding time. Each passenger will be required to pay their fare with a unique Apple device, as each device can only be used for one rider at a time.
