Apple Pay With Express Transit Mode Now Accepted on San Diego Transit

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and the North County Transit District (NCTD) are now accepting Apple Pay with Express Transit Mode, according to local transport agencies.

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Express Transit is an ‌Apple Pay‌ feature that allows for tap-and-go payment at ticket barriers, eliminating the need to authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode. The device does not need to be wakened or unlocked to use Express Transit.

"Today marks an exciting step forward in making public transit in San Diego more seamless and convenient," said Stephen Whitburn, MTS Board Chair and San Diego City Council member. "Whether you're heading to a Padres game, a concert, or simply commuting to your next destination, paying with Apple Pay empowers riders to hop onboard faster."

All SDMTS buses and trolleys, along with NCTD COASTER, SPRINTER, BREEZE and FLEX will now accept Express Transit payment.

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Top Rated Comments

DEMinSoCAL Avatar
12 months ago

great news for 0.1% of MR readers!
Do you comment the same about articles about an Apple Store opening in some far-off place in the world? How about Apple Vision articles? Mac Pro articles?

I found it useful...I guess for the first time I can say I'm part of the 0.1%! ;)
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
richpjr Avatar
12 months ago

great news for 0.1% of MR readers!
Also great news for the 0.1% of people in San Diego who use MTS!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chickeneaster Avatar
12 months ago

That's progress.
Instead of the monthly paper credit card we used 28 years ago, now you can use your $1000 phone to do it. If you have one.

With full disclosure, we should have Free transportation, Free Electricity, no Fossil fuels and religion would be a thing of the past.
If you think about it, that $1,000 phone is a conglomerate of what used to be multiple separate items, i.e. a phone, TV, camera, photo album, calculator, calendar, music player, virtual mail, maps, etc, etc and if you add up the price of all of those items then it's actually decently priced but I understand what you were saying
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
larrylaffer Avatar
12 months ago
60% of the time, it works every time
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
picpicmac Avatar
12 months ago


That image is not SD MTS. I don't know from where that image is plucked, but it isn't SDMTS. First off, the light rail doesn't use turnstiles, and most of the network are busses.

Still, I guess for the couple of thousand people who ride the busses or trolley who happen to have Apple Pay Express Transit will benefit somewhat?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
PossiblyJP Avatar
12 months ago
It’s been in use in London and NYC for years now without any security issues. They are two of the largest public transit systems in the world.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)