Fix the Compass Card

VICTORY ON STORED VALUE!!

Recently, MTS, the region’s transit system, announced they are launching a stored value function for the Compass Card.

The new stored value system called “Compass Cash” will allow customers to load their transit pass with funds, and then draw down those funds whenever needed.

If you would like to support our work on this area, please consider making a contribution.

More Work Remains

While stored value is a clear victory for transit access in San Diego, more work remains.

In 2016, Circulate San Diego launched a campaign to fix the Compass Card, the fare payment system used throughout the San Diego region.

KPBS revealed in 2016 that the MTS Compass Card is not “PCI complaint,” and it leaves customers vulnerable to credit card fraud. MTS is examining updates to their core system that will address this vulnerability. Circulate San Diego is following that issue, and will be advocating for a system upgrade.

Read up on the extensive coverage of our campaign below:

KPBS: San Diego’s MTS Compass Card Stuck In The Past, January 14, 2016

KPBS: MTS Admits Credit Card Security Gaps, February 29, 2016

KPBS: MTS Board Members Ask For Faster Data Security Upgrades, March 3, 2016

Times of San Diego: Critical KPBS Report Sparks Call for MTS to Issue New Payment Cards, March 8, 2016

KPBS: Zapf, Alvarez Join Campaign To ‘Fix’ MTS Compass Card, March 8, 2016

Union Tribune: Editorial - MTS, get on board with security, stored value, March 12, 2016

Union Tribune: Relief may come for inflexible MTS payment method, April 9, 2016

KPBS: MTS Compass Card Was Insecure From The Beginning, April 13, 2016

KPBS: MTS Aims For ‘Stored Value’ On Compass Card By November, June 3, 2016

Union Tribune: Looking for more flexible MTS ticketing? Keep waiting, September 2, 2016

KPBS: MTS ‘Stored Value’ Launch Delayed To Early 2017, November 16, 2016