The Port Authority of Allegheny County, in partnership with apps Transit and Masabi, is launching the first phase of Ready2Ride mobile ticketing system with a three-month pilot.

Riders will be able to buy tickets and passes anytime, anywhere, using either the new Ready2Ride app or the Transit app. Port Authority serves more than 60 million riders a year across bus, light rail, incline and paratransit services. A network-wide deployment of Ready2Ride will follow later in 2021.

As part of the project, more than 600 Masabi-built validation devices have been installed across the Port Authority's bus network, with light rail to follow. Passengers will tap their phone on the validators when boarding, which will scan their dynamic and encrypted mobile passes and identify the ticket as valid for use. The validation units will help speed up boarding times and provide contactless fare payment and validation. The validation units are powered by Masabi's Justride Inspect software and can also read NFC and contactless EMV technology.

"This is really exciting for us. This system has been a long time coming, and it marks a big step toward modernizing our city's transit system," Port Authority CEO Katharine Kelleman said in the release. "We had originally planned to deliver Ready2Ride in 2020 but, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were delayed. Now more than ever, riders need a secure, contactless method of payment and the assurance that they are riding in a COVID-safe environment, making this a very timely rollout."