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
Union Tribune: More flexible Compass card won't happen until January, December 6, 2016
KPBS: MTS Launching Mobile Ticketing App — With Limits, March 9, 2017
Union Tribune: Why is San Diego so behind national curve on one-way fares for trolleys, buses and commuter rail?, April 17, 2017
KPBS: MTS Adds Long-Delayed "Stored Value" to Compass Card, June 27, 2017
Union Tribune: Bus, trolley riders can now store money on Compass Card, June 28, 2017
KPBS: Data Suggest Transit Riders Like New MTS Fare Options, December 27, 2017
Voice of San Diego: MTS’s Old Board Is Rushing to Adopt a New Fare Payment System, December 13, 2018