Tar River Transit (TRT), serving Rocky Mount, North Carolina, has partnered with Modeshift to introduce Ride TRT, a new contactless fare collection system set to launch on July 1, 2025, across the majority of its fixed-route bus fleet. This initiative marks a significant step toward modernizing public transit in Rocky Mount, offering riders digital payment options for increased convenience and efficiency.
City Manager Elton Daniels stated, “By allowing riders to pay with a smartphone or reloadable smart card, we’re making Tar River Transit more convenient, more efficient and better aligned with the needs of today’s passengers.”
Modeshift, a technology company specializing in digital mobility infrastructure and contactless fare collection systems, will provide the account-based platform for Ride TRT. Miroslav Katsarov, CEO of Modeshift, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting the goal to “empower agencies like TRT with scalable tools that serve both riders and transit staff, ultimately creating a more inclusive and sustainable transportation ecosystem.”
The Ride TRT system will feature several key functionalities:
Mobile Ticketing: Riders will be able to plan, purchase, and validate trips through a free TRT app, available for iOS and Android devices.
Smart Cards: Reloadable fare cards will offer a payment alternative for users without mobile devices, providing a convenient option to pay and ride.
Web Portal: An online portal will allow access to trip planning, fare purchases, and account management from any internet-connected device.
Smart Pay Accounts: Personalized profiles enable passengers to manage favorite routes, view transaction history, and reload passes easily.
Data-Driven Insights: The digital platform will provide TRT with valuable data to optimize routes, improve decision-making, and enhance system responsiveness.
Automated Vehicle Locator (AVL): Real-time vehicle tracking will be available via the TRT app.
Todd Gardner, Tar River Transit Administrator, noted that Ride TRT will provide riders with “more convenient, flexible and modern tools to navigate our city’s transit system.” He added that streamlining the fare collection process will improve the rider experience and build more efficient operations behind the scenes. The system will initially focus on TRT’s fixed route buses.
Modeshift’s core offering is an Account-based Fare Collection System, built on Microsoft Azure cloud and delivered as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform. The company also provides other subsystems, including Mobile ticketing, AVL/CAD, and real-time passenger information, with an aim to help transit agencies reduce carbon emissions and achieve sustainability goals.
