California’s Contracts—for U.S. transit agencies
The State of California has Master Service Agreements (MSAs)—most of which are open to all public transportation providers in the U.S.—available to help you modernize your transit system. The Mobility Marketplace serves as Cal-ITP’s online catalog, where transit providers can browse available goods and services and build a customized transit technology system that suits their needs.
How do MSAs Work?The contracts or MSAs listed on this site are examples of a “state purchasing schedule.” These schedules are agreements between a state or related entity and vendor(s) to provide goods or services at agreed-upon prices. Fundamentally, state purchasing schedules are designed to accommodate other parties that may enter into and benefit from the agreements in the future.
Guidance from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) supports recipients in pursuing state purchasing schedules, given that agreement parties have granted express permission and all FTA and Federal requirements are met. Read more about Third Party Procurement from the FTA.
Contactless Fare CollectionTo add contactless fare collection, you will need up to three new technologies and ensure internet connectivity on your fleet (if you don’t already have it).
Become GTFS-compliant first for best results Highly recommendedWe recommend creating an action plan for becoming GTFS-ready before going contactless, as the vendors you select can help you use this data for reporting purposes plus help your customers see your real-time vehicle location and fare information on journey-planning smartphone maps and apps.
Learn how to become GTFS-compliant
Payment Processor
Back-end service that transmits fares from riders’ bank cards and smart devices to transit providers’ bank accounts.
Fare calculation software
(Transit Processor Services)
Recognizes riders’ unique payment methods and charges the best fare for each trip, accounting for applicable discounts and distance traveled. It also enables “fare capping,” meaning that riders who pay as they go receive the same benefits as pass holders once they reach the cap.
Fare validators
(Payment Acceptance Devices)
On-board or platform devices equipped with the technology to read and validate riders’ contactless bank cards and smart devices.
Data plans
Fleet modernization and new vehicle technology are allowing us to be even more connected with our transit journeys. To do this, most require data access. These data plans are available to agencies with the pre-negotiated rates listed.