The Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority (BARTA), managed by South Central Transit Authority (SCTA), has partnered with Modeshift to pilot a new fare collection system for its BARTA Special Services, a shared-ride transportation program for seniors and individuals with disabilities in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
The pilot program extends the “BARTA Go Mobile” brand, which is currently used across BARTA’s fixed-route service, to shared-ride customers, offering increased flexibility and convenience. BARTA Special Services provides essential door-to-door transportation for residents in Berks County who are unable to use fixed-route buses, facilitating access to medical appointments, work, shopping, and community destinations. With this new pilot, customers can pay for trips using a mobile phone or a BARTA Go Mobile card, expanding beyond the previous cash-only payment option.
Existing BARTA Go Mobile cards will function across both fixed-route and shared-ride services, while new on-vehicle payment systems and e-wallet functionalities are designed to streamline transactions and create a unified customer experience. Greg Downing, Executive Director of SCTA, stated, “The pilot is about providing access and convenience for our Special Services customers to pay for their trips and not worry about carrying cash when accessing the transportation they depend on. By aligning the technology between our fixed-route and shared-ride services, we’re creating one seamless experience under the BARTA Go Mobile brand.” Miroslav Katsarov, CEO of Modeshift, added that the pilot “is a natural evolution of our partnership with SCTA, and we’re proud to see our platform expanding into shared ride services.”
Key features of the BARTA Special Services pilot include the BARTA Go Mobile App, available for Apple and Android devices, which enables fare payment and QR-code ride validation directly from smartphones. Customers can add funds and manage their accounts through the app. Additionally, reloadable BARTA Go Mobile Smart Cards are linked to an e-wallet, allowing customers to add funds for their shared-ride trips via an online web portal. The digital platform also offers family members and caregivers the option to manage accounts for their loved ones.
The consistent branding under BARTA Go Mobile aims to create a unified system for all BARTA customers across both transit modes. This new payment system builds on the success of Modeshift’s 360-degree fare collection platform, which has modernized SCTA’s fixed-route services across Berks and Lancaster counties since its launch in 2021. The platform has provided account-based fare collection, mobile ticketing, real-time passenger information, and contactless validation. Mr. Katsarov further noted, “It shows how flexible and customizable our system is, meeting the needs of agencies across modes while keeping things simple for riders.”
This pilot aligns with a broader industry trend among small and mid-sized transit agencies to adopt modern, account-based fare collection systems without the complexity often associated with lengthy technology projects. For BARTA customers, particularly seniors and individuals with disabilities who rely on Special Services, this initiative is expected to enhance convenience and equity.
