Return to Office Doesn’t Equal Return to Patterns in Prepaid Transit

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically altered the way we live and work, causing significant disruptions in all aspects of society, including transportation. An immediate and massive reduction in ridership changed rider behavior and resulted in a faster recovery for vehicle travel. As employers begin to reopen offices, new work patterns have emerged, with less reliance on five-day in-office attendance, shifting the needs of transit and toll authorities to serve their customers.

Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, there is reason to be optimistic about the future of mass transit commuting and toll collections. For mass transit, continued investment in public transportation infrastructure and technology will be essential to improving the overall user experience and making mass transit more accessible and sustainable in the long term. These investments will improve the customer experience and will drive some revenue from prepaid to postpaid options. Similarly, technological improvements for toll collections, reducing or eliminating cash payments, will make improvements to service with a reverse effect, driving more business to prepaid options.