The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) is aiming for an increase in digital payments for public transport in the region.
Its transport committee has approved a digital payment strategy that takes a ‘mobility as a service’ approach and involves an emphasis on using an app or web portal to access different types of transport, and to make payments through an account or single transactions.
WYCA said the app would make it easier for users to plan journeys, then book and pay for them through one channel. But it emphasised that the aim is to promote a flexible digital payment system rather than going completely cashless.
The strategy also involves increasing the use of the MCard scheme and WYCA working with regional transport authority Transport for the North on its Integrated and Smart Ticketing project. The consortium of transport bodies is working on the development of a smart ticketing system
Councillor Kim Groves, chair of the transport committee, said: “With over 300,000 travel smartcards in use through the MCard scheme, the majority of Elland Road and Temple Green park and ride 9,000-plus customers using money-saving smartcards and the transport companies’ own schemes, digital payment for travel is already popular and well established in West Yorkshire.
“This strategy sets out how we can build upon this strong position and make it easier for people to use public transport by planning and pay for their travel digitally while also, importantly emphasising the need to ensure people who don’t want to or are currently unable to pay in this way, can still take advantage of an improved system.”
