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Southern Nevada transit agency partners for rider rewards
The Open Payments tap-to-earn initiative combines ease of open-loop payments with an engaging incentive structure to encourage habit change among riders.
The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) has launched a rewards programme designed to encourage riders to pay for transit fares using their Visa card.
Powered by an Open Payments solution from Masabi, and integrated with the Velocia rewards platform, the initiative aims to enhance rider convenience while offering valuable incentives for tapping to ride.
RTC contactless payment ecosystem
The programme is open to a set number of participating riders within the RTC contactless payment ecosystem, on a first-come, first-served basis. Once enrolled, riders will earn points each time they tap their Visa contactless card, payment-enabled device, or other payment method to pay for an RTC ride.
These acquired points can then be redeemed for free rides, making every journey more rewarding. Additional bonus points will be granted to riders who maintain weekly streaks, tapping their payment card or payment enabled device at least four times in a single week, with even greater rewards for those continuing their streaks for up to four consecutive weeks.
“Thanks to this programme, we’re demonstrating this exciting step forward in modernising fare payments and providing real benefits to our riders through an easy and rewarding system”
Masabi reports the programme has been made possible through RTC’s partnership with Masabi, which launched the agency’s Open Payments fare collection system in December 2023. The system allows riders to conveniently pay for transit using contactless bank cards, mobile wallets, and smart devices.
Masabi recently introduced a new feature, Open Payments Account Linking, which enables riders to link their payment card to a single transit account. This functionality makes the rewards programme possible by allowing reduced fares and rewards to be assigned to a rider’s payment card, while also unlocking access to trip history and other account-based benefits.
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With Velocia’s integration, this initiative combines the ease of open-loop payments with an engaging incentive structure to encourage habit change among riders. Masabi claims the launch illustrates how it equips agencies with practical tools to enable swift policy implementation that encourages rider behaviour changes.
“With contactless payments, we’ve made riding transit easier than ever before in Southern Nevada,” said MJ Maynard-Carey, CEO of RTC. “Now, thanks to this programme, we’re demonstrating this exciting step forward in modernising fare payments and providing real benefits to our riders through an easy and rewarding system.”
“We’re setting a new standard for how cities can drive sustainable transit habits through seamless, everyday payment experiences that are as convenient as they are rewarding”
To participate, riders must download the rideRTC app, create an account, and register for the programme. As a sign-up bonus, each participant will receive 200 points – the equivalent of a free single-ride. The programme will run for an initial six-month period, and beyond with the aim of enhancing rider convenience. It also offers valuable opportunities for RTC to gain insights into ridership trends. By collecting trip data and rewarding participants for completing surveys, RTC can plan future transit improvements and innovations.
“This programme demonstrates the power of Open Payments and the potential for seamless fare collection solutions to drive rider engagement in new and exciting ways,” said Brian Zanghi, CEO at Masabi. “By integrating rewards directly into the payment experience, based on how much riders travel with the agency, RTC is not only encouraging riders to adopt contactless payments but also providing them with meaningful benefits for doing so.”
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How does the Open Payments system improve rider convenience in Southern Nevada?What incentives encourage riders to use contactless Visa payments on RTC transit?How does the Velocia platform integrate with Masabi’s Open Payments solution?What benefits do weekly tapping streaks provide to transit riders?How can RTC use collected trip data to enhance future transit services?
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