Boston commuters get mobile

Boston area commuters began piloting the nation's first mobile ticketing program for commuter trains Nov. 12, 2012. Riders will be able to purchase tickets in seconds via the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority mobile wallet application, mTicket. The free application is available for Apple Inc. iPhones and devices using the Google Inc. Android operating system.

The electronic ticket is stored in the application's ticket wallet on the phone and displayed as an encrypted bar code. The new commuter payment system uses Masabi US Ltd.'s Just Ride mobile ticketing platform.

In the first phase of the pilot program commuters will only be able to purchase single or 10-ride tickets through mTicket. The MTBA said it will offer commuters the option to purchase monthly passes when the pilot expands to its second phase later in November.

The MTBA reported less than half of its 140 Commuter Rail stations have fare vending machines; commuters pay a surcharge for buying tickets onboard. mTicket reportedly will allow commuters to avoid the surcharge while the agency eliminates the cost of installing new vending machines and lowers its cash handling costs.

Richard Davey, Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, said the new ticketing system will give customers "more time back in their day and more control over their commute."

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