The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Southern Nevada has introduced a rewards programme from Masabi to encourage riders to pay transit fares using a Visa card.
The open payments solution from Masabi, launched in December 2023, is integrated with the Velocia rewards platform, and the initiative is open to a set number of participating riders on a first-come-first-served basis.
Once enrolled, riders will earn points each time they tap their contactless card, payment-enabled device, or other payment method to pay for an RTC ride.
The accumulated points can then be redeemed for free rides. Additional bonus points will be granted to riders who maintain weekly streaks, going contactless at least four times in a single week, with even greater rewards for those continuing their streaks for up to four consecutive weeks.
Masabi's Open Payments Account Linking feature enables riders to link their payment card to a single transit account.
This functionality makes the rewards programme possible by allowing reduced fares and rewards to be assigned to a rider’s payment card, while also unlocking access to trip history and other account-based benefits.
With Velocia’s integration, this initiative combines the ease of open-loop payments with an incentive structure to encourage a change of habit among riders.
“With contactless payments, we’ve made riding transit easier than ever before in Southern Nevada,” said M.J. Maynard-Carey, CEO of RTC.
“Now, thanks to this programme, we’re demonstrating this exciting step forward in modernising fare payments and providing real benefits to our riders through an easy and rewarding system.”
To participate, riders must download the RideRTC app, create an account, and register. As a sign-up bonus, each participant will receive 200 points – the equivalent of a free single ride.
The programme will run for an initial six months, allowing RTC to gain insights into ridership trends. By collecting trip data and rewarding participants for completing surveys, RTC can plan future transit improvements and innovations.
Brian Zanghi, CEO at Masabi, says: “By integrating rewards directly into the payment experience, based on how much riders travel with the agency, RTC is not only encouraging riders to adopt contactless payments but also providing them with meaningful benefits for doing so.”
“RTC has consistently led the way in delivering rider-first innovations and we’re proud to support their continued leadership with a rewards programme that spans both open- and closed-loop systems,” said David Winterstein, CEO at Velocia.
“Together with Masabi and Visa, we’re setting a new standard for how cities can drive sustainable transit habits through seamless, everyday payment experiences that are as convenient as they are rewarding.”
