A new era of public transit has begun in California with the launch of Ventura County’s first fully contactless open-loop fare payment system, made possible through the successful cooperation between Switchio and Enghouse Transportation.
By combining Switchio’s open-loop ticketing platform with Enghouse Transportation’s experience as a system integrator, the two companies have delivered a practical and reliable solution that makes transit payments simpler and more convenient for riders and operators.
This is our first project in the U.S., and we’re very happy to bring our open-loop technology to California. Ventura County is just the beginning, and we already have more projects in preparation,
said Jan Silar, Business Director Mobility at Switchio.
A Partnership Focused on Simplicity
Switchio provided its EMV-certified open-loop payment platform, while Enghouse Transportation served as the system integrator, ensuring smooth implementation and full integration with Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) operations.
Enghouse Transportation’s local expertise and understanding of transit systems helped the project meet the ambitious standards of the California Integrated Travel Project (CAL-ITP), a statewide initiative designed to modernize and unify public transportation systems across California.
This project has been a great opportunity to create a reliable and easy-to-use solution for Ventura County. It shows the value of strong collaboration and creates a foundation for improving contactless transit across the United States, with more installations already in preparation,
said Maarten van Hooij, Software Product Owner at Enghouse.
Making Transit Easier with Tap2Ride
As of June, 2025, passengers can board VCTC Intercity buses by simply tapping a contactless credit or debit card or a mobile wallet such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay, or on a yellow Tap2Ride reader. The system will accept all major card schemes, including Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Discover, giving riders complete flexibility. Mastercard and Visa have been accepted since the solution launched, American Express and Discover will be added to the system soon.
The new system speeds up boarding and offers pay-as-you-go discounts for frequent riders, while traditional fare options like cash and VCbuspass cards remain available. With 41 buses and one terminal per bus in operation, Ventura County now provides a faster and more convenient way to pay for transit.
