Beginning today, commuters on all North Station lines will be able to buy and view their tickets on their smartphones, thanks to an app developed by a British mobile-ticketing developer. The Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) says that the implementation will save much of the time spent on on-board transactions that will slow down conductors as well. MBTA adds that the new ticketing system will also cut down the punch-ticket debris. Commuters can now purchase one-way, round-trip, or 10-ride tickets using credit or debit cards.
“The goal was to give people as much time back as possible,” said Richard A. Davey, state transportation secretary. “Here, literally, the ticket machine is in your pocket.” Basically the ticketing system works by downloading the MBTA mTicket app via iTunes and Google Play. An app for BlackBerry phones is coming soon. Users will simply have to select their origin and destination and then purchase by entering their payment information. Once done, users will only have to push “activate” on the app before boarding then show the ticket afterwards to the conductor. MBTA adds that South Station lines and ferries are expected to follow after Thanksgiving.
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