Hop Fastpass

Last updated

Hop Fastpass
Hop Fastpass 2018.jpg
The standard adult Hop Fastpass card
Location Portland, Oregon metro area
LaunchedJuly 17, 2017 [lower-alpha 1]
Technology
Operator INIT
Manager TriMet
Currency USD ($250 maximum load)
Validity
Website myhopcard.com

Hop Fastpass is a contactless smart card for public transit fare payment on most transit modes in the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area including MAX Light Rail, WES commuter rail, Portland Streetcar, The Vine, and all TriMet and C-TRAN buses. An initial release to the general public began on July 5, 2017, with the official launch on July 17. [2] The program is managed by TriMet.

Contents

The Hop card is a purple credit card-sized stored-value contactless smartcard that can hold a cash value or day or monthly passes for various systems. Because all terminals that read Hop cards can also accept NFC-based mobile payment, "virtual" Hop cards are available for use on any iOS or Android smartphone supporting Apple Pay or Google Wallet respectively; these are functionally identical to physical cards. Day or month passes allowing unlimited rides within the given time frame can be "earned" by purchasing an amount in single fares equal to the cost of the pass; [3] a year pass, which costs as much as 11 earned month passes, can also be purchased up-front. [4] Passengers must tap on each time they enter the system by holding the card to an electronic reader to validate a pass or deduct funds. Cards can be reloaded using a credit or debit card online, using a mobile app, calling a toll-free number, or at local retailers and ticket offices. Cash can be used when reloading the card in person.

Background

A Hop card reader inside a TriMet bus Hop Fastpass card reader inside a TriMet bus (2018).jpg
A Hop card reader inside a TriMet bus

Prior to the introduction of electronic payments on the network, paper tickets and passes were used by Portland-area transit agencies. The tickets needed to be validated at ticket validators on the Streetcar or at MAX and WES stations. They did not offer fare exchange or extension. [5] Installation of Hop readers began in March 2015, and was completed by the end of 2016. A public beta began in February 2017. [6] The system cost $35.9 million to install and test at the time of its public release. [7]

Technology

The Hop Card uses ISO 14443-compliant RFID technology allowing the card to be read/written without direct contact. The card uses the NXP/Philips MIFARE DESFire EV1 256B. [1] Hop Card readers can also read information from contactless bank cards and mobile wallets. [8]

Brand

The card's initial design is an ISO 7810 standard-sized purple card, with the Hop logo, and the logos of the three participating transit agencies at the top, and a colored bar at the bottom. [5] The colored bar indicates the type of card: purple for standard adult fares, green for "honored citizen" which includes seniors, low-income riders, and riders with disabilities, and orange for youth cards. Cards also have a hole punched in them for use with a lanyard. [9]

The Hop name was chosen in September 2015, beating out other candidates, including 1Pass, Indigo, Umbrella, Via and Lynx, that were proposed in 2014. Its name references both rabbits and the hops used in craft beers brewed in Portland. [10]

Sales

Hop cards can be purchased at any participating transit agencies' ticket offices, as well as local grocery and convenience stores. [11]

Use

The Hop card readers at C-Tran "The Vine" stations were originally mounted on freestanding posts at stops. Now, the card readers are on board the Vine buses. MAX passengers still must tap their cards at a reader on the platform before boarding. Hop Fastpass reader and mounting post at C-Tran Vine station (2017).jpg
The Hop card readers at C-Tran "The Vine" stations were originally mounted on freestanding posts at stops. Now, the card readers are on board the Vine buses. MAX passengers still must tap their cards at a reader on the platform before boarding.

The card must be tapped each time the system is entered or a transfer is made. It can be tapped on boarding a bus or streetcar, or tapped before boarding the light rail, commuter rail, or BRT. On tapping the card a display shows the time remaining on the current ticket or pass. It also displays any relevant low-balance alerts with an audible sound. There is no penalty for tapping the card more than once within the duration of a ticket. Unlike some systems, there is no need to tap out when leaving the system since fare is the same regardless of the point of exit. [12]

Ticketing/pricing

The network's fares are time-based rather than distance or segment-based. Tickets are available for unlimited travel over the course of 2.5 hours, one day, one month, or one year. [5] Hop's fare capping system prevents riders from being charged more than the cost of a day pass during one day, or the cost of a monthly pass in the course of a month. This allows riders the benefits of a day or a monthly pass without the upfront cost, or the need to purchase one in advance. [13]

The card can be reloaded online, over the phone, or with the Hop app using a credit or debit card. It can also be reloaded using a credit card or cash anywhere it can be purchased. [14] Hop cards do not expire (except honored citizen cards, which must be renewed every two years). Once a loaded pass expires it can be reloaded with a new one. TriMet has said it projects a card will last 10 years. [14]

Mobile wallets

On May 21, 2019, TriMet announced that Hop could be added to Google Wallet and Apple Wallet by using the Hop Fastpass app on either Android or iOS. Hop was the first transit card in North America to launch availability in both Google Wallet and Apple Wallet. [15] [16] Virtual Hop cards are functionally identical to their physical counterparts, allowing for the same fare capping rules, and allowing riders to purchase concession fares. Hop also allows riders to convert physical cards onto either mobile payment system.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Official release date; public beta began in February 2017, and limited availability began on July 5

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MAX Light Rail</span> Light rail system serving Portland, Oregon

The Metropolitan Area Express (MAX) is a light rail system serving the Portland metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Oregon. Owned and operated by TriMet, it consists of five lines connecting the six sections of Portland; the communities of Beaverton, Clackamas, Gresham, Hillsboro, Milwaukie, and Oak Grove; and Portland International Airport to Portland City Center. Trains run seven days a week with headways of between 30 minutes off-peak and three minutes during rush hours. In 2019, MAX had an average daily ridership of 120,900, or 38.8 million annually. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted public transit use globally, annual ridership plummeted, with only 14.8 million riders recorded in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TriMet</span> Oregon government-owned corporation responsible for public transit in the Portland area

The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) is a transit agency that serves most of the Oregon part of the Portland metropolitan area. Created in 1969 by the Oregon legislature, the district replaced five private bus companies that operated in the three counties: Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas. TriMet began operating a light rail system, MAX, in 1986, which has since been expanded to five lines that now cover 59.7 miles (96.1 km). It also operates the WES Commuter Rail line since 2009. It also provides the operators and maintenance personnel for the city of Portland-owned Portland Streetcar system. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 62,055,600, or about 208,900 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C-Tran (Washington)</span> Public transit operator in Clark County, Washington

C-Tran, more formally the Clark County Public Transit Benefit Area Authority, is a public transit agency serving Clark County, Washington, United States, including the cities of Battle Ground, Camas, Vancouver, Washougal, and Yacolt. Founded in 1981, C-Tran operates fixed route bus services within Clark County, as well as paratransit services for qualified persons with disabilities (C-Van) and a dial-a-ride service in Camas, Ridgefield, and La Center. C-Tran also provides express commuter services between Clark County and Downtown Portland, Oregon and regional services to the Parkrose/Sumner and Delta Park MAX Light Rail stations, and Oregon Health and Science University. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 4,738,700, or about 16,000 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oyster card</span> Payment method for public transport in London

The Oyster card is a payment method for public transport in London, England, United Kingdom. A standard Oyster card is a blue credit-card-sized stored-value contactless smart card. It is promoted by Transport for London (TfL) and can be used on as part of London's integrated transport network on travel modes including London Buses, London Underground, the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), London Overground, Tramlink, some river boat services, and most National Rail services within the London fare zones. Since its introduction in June 2003, more than 86 million cards have been used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MIFARE</span> Brand of smart and proximity cards

MIFARE is a series of integrated circuit (IC) chips used in contactless smart cards and proximity cards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toronto Transit Commission fares</span>

Fares to use the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) transit system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, can be paid with various media. The price of fares varies according to age, occupation, income level, and health condition of riders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clipper card</span> Public transit ticketing system in the San Francisco Bay Area, US

The Clipper card is a reloadable contactless smart card used for automated fare collection in the San Francisco Bay Area. First introduced as TransLink in 2002 by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) as a pilot program, it was rebranded in its current form on June 16, 2010. Like other transit smart cards such as the Oyster card, the Clipper card is a credit card-sized stored-value card capable of holding both cash value and transit passes for the participating transit agencies. In addition to the traditional plastic card, Clipper is available as a virtual card in Google Wallet and Apple Wallet. Clipper is accepted by nearly all public transit services in the Bay Area, including but not limited to Muni, BART, Caltrain, AC Transit, SamTrans, Golden Gate Transit, Golden Gate Ferry, San Francisco Bay Ferry, and VTA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presto card</span> Contactless smart card fare system in Ontario, Canada

The Presto card is a contactless smart card automated fare collection system used on participating public transit systems in the province of Ontario, Canada, specifically in Greater Toronto, Hamilton, and Ottawa. Presto card readers were implemented on a trial basis from 25 June 2007 to 30 September 2008. Full implementation began in November 2009 and it was rolled out across rapid transit stations, railway stations, bus stops and terminals, and transit vehicles on eleven different transit systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CharlieCard</span> Public transit smart card used in Boston

The CharlieCard is a contactless smart card used for fare payment for transportation in the Boston area. It is the primary payment method for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and several regional public transport systems in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It is used on the MBTA's subway and bus services, but is not currently accepted on the MBTA Commuter Rail and ferries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proof-of-payment</span> Public transportation fare collection system

Proof-of-payment(POP) or proof-of-fare(POF) is an honor-based fare collection system used on many public transportation systems. Instead of checking each passenger as they enter a fare control zone, passengers are required to carry a paper ticket, transit pass, transit smartcard — or open payment methods such as contactless credit or debit cards (if applicable) — after swiping or tapping on smart card readers, to prove that they have paid the valid fare. Fares are enforced via random spot-checks by inspectors such as conductors or enforcement officers, to ensure that passengers have paid their fares and are not committing fare evasion. On many systems, a passenger can purchase a single-use ticket or multi-use pass at any time in advance, but must insert the ticket or pass into a validation machine immediately before use. Validation machines in stations or on board vehicles time stamp the ticket. The ticket is then valid for some period of time after the stamped time.

A contactless smart card is a contactless credential whose dimensions are credit card size. Its embedded integrated circuits can store data and communicate with a terminal via NFC. Commonplace uses include transit tickets, bank cards and passports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breeze Card</span> Public transit smart card used in Atlanta, Georgia

The Breeze Card is an American stored value smart card that passengers use as part of an automated fare collection system which the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) introduced to the general public in early October 2006. The card automatically debits the cost of the passenger’s ride when placed on or near the Breeze Target at the fare gate. Transit riders are able to add value or time-based passes to the card at Breeze Vending Machines (BVM) located at all MARTA stations. The major phases of MARTA's Breeze transformation took place before July 1, 2007 when customers were still able to purchase TransCards from ridestores or their employers. They were also able to obtain paper transfers from bus drivers to access the train. As of July 1, 2007 the TransCard and the paper transfers were discontinued and patrons now use a Breeze Card or ticket to access the system, and all transfers are loaded on the card. Breeze Vending Machines (BVM) distribute regional transit provider passes The Breeze Card employs passive RFID technology currently in use in many transit systems around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ORCA card</span> Proximity smart card for public transit in the Puget Sound region of Washington state

The ORCA card is a contactless, stored-value smart card system for public transit in the Puget Sound region of Washington, United States. The card is valid on most transit systems in the Seattle metropolitan area, including Sound Transit, local bus agencies, Washington State Ferries, the King County Water Taxi, and Kitsap Fast Ferries. It was launched in 2009 and is managed by the Central Puget Sound Regional Fare Coordination Project, a board composed of local transit agencies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transit Access Pass</span> Physical and electronic public transit smart card used in Los Angeles

The Transit Access Pass (TAP) is a contactless smart card used for automated fare collection on most public transport agencies within Los Angeles County, California. The card is also available in electronic form, free of charge, in Apple Wallet, thereby bypassing the need to purchase the plastic USD $2 card. It is administered by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), and the card and fare collection systems are manufactured by Cubic Transportation Systems.

The Freedom Card, stylized as FREEDOM Card, is a contactless smartcard fare collection system used by the PATCO Speedline in New Jersey and Philadelphia.

MIFARE4Mobile is a technical specification published by NXP Semiconductors in December 2008 to manage MIFARE-based applications in mobile devices. The specification provides mobile network operators and service providers with a single, interoperable programming interface, easing the use of the contactless MIFARE technology in future mobile Near Field Communication (NFC) devices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Easy Card</span> Public transit smart card used in the Miami, Florida Metropolitan Area

The Easy Card is a contactless smartcard system for public transit fares in the Miami metropolitan area. The Easy Card is valid on Metrobus and Metrorail services in Miami-Dade County, and on Tri-Rail services throughout the region. Easy Card payments were introduced in 2009 on Miami-Dade Transit services, and expanded to Tri-Rail in 2011. The card functions as a stored-value card, and can also be loaded with unlimited-ride passes. Reduced-fare and zero-fare versions of the Easy Card are available for eligible customers, including seniors and individuals with disabilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TFI Leap Card</span> Irish rapid transit payment card

The TFI Leap Card is a contactless smart card for automated fare collection overseen by Transport for Ireland (TFI). It was introduced in the Greater Dublin area in 2011 for Luas, DART, Iarnród Éireann and Dublin Bus, but acceptance has significantly expanded, and it is now accepted in cities nationwide and on some longer distance commuter routes. Initially, Leap Cards offered only a pre-paid electronic wallet system for single-trip fares; since May 2014, it has also been possible to load it with weekly, monthly and annual subscriptions. In September 2017, there were over 2.5 million Leap Card users according to the National Transport Authority. The Leap Card is the result of many years' work by the Railway Procurement Agency and the National Transport Authority as part of the rollout of an integrated ticketing scheme for public transport in Dublin city. Fares are generally discounted compared to cash prices, and integrated ticketing is offered in the Dublin area via a flat fare system across all modes of transport. The minimum top-up for the card is currently €5, and it can be topped up via iPhone/Android App, at LUAS or DART ticketing machines, and in convenience stores offering Payzone services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SEPTA Key</span> Public transit smart card used in Philadelphia

The SEPTA Key card is a smart card that is used for automated fare collection on the SEPTA public transportation network in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. It can be used throughout SEPTA's transit system, including buses and SEPTA Metro, and on Regional Rail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HOLO card</span> Public transit smart card used on the island of Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi

The HOLO card is a contactless smart card used to pay for public transit fares on the island of Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi. The card is used to hold cash value or passes for use on TheBus and the Skyline rail system. The card is used by tapping it on a reader terminal when boarding TheBus or at a Skyline faregate. Cards can be loaded online at the HOLO card's website, over the phone, or in person at various retail locations.

References

  1. 1 2 "NXP helps the Portland-Vancouver Metro region move intelligence to the cloud with the new Hop Fastpass™ Transit Card used on Buses, the Light Rail and Streetcars" (Press release). MIFARE. October 9, 2017. Retrieved June 16, 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. ↑ Njus, Elliot (July 3, 2017). "Slow rollout begins for Hop Fastpass, the new transit fare system". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on June 17, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Hop Fastpass Transit Fare Card:Earn Passes and Save as You Ride". myhopcard.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  4. ↑ "1-Year Photo Pass". Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 TriMet. "Fares for TriMet Buses, MAX and WES". trimet.org. Archived from the original on July 14, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2017.
  6. ↑ "E-Fare Card Reader Installation" (Press release). TriMet. Archived from the original on June 8, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  7. ↑ Pesanti, Dameon (March 8, 2017). "C-Tran, other agencies beta testing efare system using smart card". The Columbian. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  8. ↑ MiFARE. "NXP® MIFARE® DESFire® EV2" (PDF). Retrieved September 27, 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  9. ↑ TriMet. "Fares". TriMet. Archived from the original on September 7, 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  10. ↑ Njus, Elliot (September 3, 2015). "TriMet's new electronic fare system dubbed 'Hop Fastpass'". The Oregonian . Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  11. ↑ TriMet. "Get a Card". Hop fastpass. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  12. ↑ TriMet. "Tap and Go With Hop". Hop fastpass. Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  13. ↑ Altstadt, Roberta (September 3, 2015). "Coming in 2017: Hop on board with Hop Fastpass" (Press release). TriMet. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  14. 1 2 TriMet. "Hop Help: Common Questions". Archived from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  15. ↑ Altstadt, Roberta (January 21, 2019). "Portland-Vancouver's Hop Fastpass® becomes first transit fare card in North America on iPhone" (Press release). TriMet. Archived from the original on May 24, 2019. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  16. ↑ "TriMet first with Android Pay virtual fare card" Archived October 12, 2019, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved Oct 11, 2019

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.