SCAG Funding Supports Metrolink’s New Contactless Payment System
In a development that promises to improve customer experience on transit in Southern California and advance the region’s readiness for the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, FIFA World Cup 2026, and future mega events, Metrolink recently launched its Contactless Payments Pilot project. Contactless payment is a secure, cash-free method to pay transit fares by tapping or holding a payment card, smartphone, or smartwatch on a payment terminal. This technological innovation is becoming more common around the region and the nation and is considered an important upgrade in advancing a more seamless, connected, and rider-focused transportation experience. Projects like Metrolink’s Contactless Payment Pilot explore new ways to simplify transit access and improve the overall customer experience.
SCAG is proud to support the transition to contactless payments by providing Metrolink’s Contactless Payments Pilot with $2.8 million in funding from the Regional Early Action Planning Grants of 2021 (REAP 2.0) and the Carbon Reduction Program to demonstrate contactless fare payment technology, also known as “open loop technology, on the Arrow and San Bernardino lines.
Contactless payments align with Southern California’s broader strategies to prepare for the LA28 Games and beyond by investing in upgrades that provide lasting benefits after the games conclude.
Metrolink’s Contactless Payments Pilot project also reflects the long-term vision outlined in the Connect SoCal 2024 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy for a more connected, seamless, and sustainable Southern California. Through investments in projects like this, SCAG helps turn regional goals into tangible improvements that enhance customer experience, expand mobility choices, and strengthen regional connectivity.
Visit the SCAG website to learn more about REAP 2.0, Connect SoCal, and LA28 Games Mobility.