HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – The Metropolitan Evansville Transit System (METS) announced a five-year agreement with Matawan to modernize the city’s bus fare collection system.
Officials say METS is advancing public transportation with the introduction of Matawan’s advanced Account-Based Ticketing (ABT) and Open Payment system. This initiative offers increased accessibility and equity for annual METS riders by allowing payment via cash, credit or debit across 29 buses and 21 routes.
“Our top priority was ensuring modernization didn’t mean exclusion. Matawan understood this immediately,” said Evansville Transportation and Services Director Todd Robertson. “Their ability to blend paying by bank credit card, debit card or mobile wallet with a system for digitizing cash fares will allow us to expand the ability to sell bus passes through a third-party vender in the future, if needed.”
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METS notes the core of this project is Matawan’s ability to integrate its platform with the existing infrastructure. This capability allows METS to transition, while immediately gaining:
- Inclusive Access
- Existing fareboxes are retained, and physical cash top-ups are integrated via local retail partners—effectively digitizing cash—while simultaneously accepting standard credit card, debit card and mobile wallet payments.
- Dynamic Fare Engine
- Providing the flexibility to easily implement programs, such as popular “Free Ride Days,” without system overhaul, a feature often difficult for legacy systems to manage.
- Fare Capping
- Automatically ensuring riders never pay more than the daily or weekly pass price, regardless of how often they tap.
“Matawan’s proven and innovative SaaS fare payment platform will enable METS to achieve their goals and improve the user experience,” said Ian Woodroofe, Matawan’s Managing Director North America. “Our solution ensures that while we digitize and streamline operations, we don’t leave anyone behind. We are digitizing cash, ensuring every rider—whether they use a card, mobile wallet, or cash—benefits from flexible, fair, and data-driven mobility.” This implementation positions Evansville at the forefront of regional US transit modernization, showcasing how even mid-sized networks can pivot easily to take advantage of new payment platforms to improve service to their clients…