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Kitsap Transit board debates ORCA, tap-to-pay and ridership data accuracy ahead of World Cup visitor surge
Summary
Board members pressed staff on timelines for tap-to-pay and acceptance of credit cards, the reliability of automatic passenger counters (APCs) versus ORCA/TAP data, and requests for route-level fare/revenue breakdowns to match ridership to costs.
KITSAP COUNTY, Wash. — Kitsap Transit board members on June 3 pressed staff for firm timelines on tap-to-pay and credit card acceptance ahead of visitors expected for the World Cup, and debated data sources used to measure ridership and route performance.
Staff said the tap-to-pay (credit-card tap) capability is in the contractor workplan and that the agency’s goal is to have the system operational before the World Cup. "That's a must before World Cup. Absolutely," staff said, describing acceptance of Visa and Mastercard on buses and through ORCA. Staff added that ORCA will still support credit-card tap (the transaction will be recorded through ORCA), so riders will not necessarily need to carry an ORCA card to use contactless payments.
Board members also questioned the reliability of automated passenger counters (APCs). Staff said ORCA/TAP transaction data are "pretty close" and are being used for operational decisions, but that APC-derived counts need a year of validation before the Federal Transit Administration will accept them for National Transit Database reporting. Staff noted APC vendors are larger, established firms and the agency expects APCs to be the long-term source, but they acknowledged no system is guaranteed.
Several members asked for more granular reporting. One board member requested quarterly reports that break fares and ridership down by route to match ridership to subsidy and cost data. Staff said route-by-route ridership and fare breakdowns can be provided and that ORCA TAP data counts every tap; APC data are being validated.
Board members discussed tradeoffs: tap-to-pay eases access for casual riders and visitors, while ORCA monthly passes serve frequent riders and employer-subsidized fares. Some members noted merchant fees on credit-card transactions are a cost to consider in any payment policy change.
Staff agreed to provide timelines and additional detail on ORCA and tap-to-pay progress, and board members asked staff to invite ORCA representatives to a study session to discuss timelines and policy implications.
