Plastic cards to replace paper MTS passes

A new credit card-like transit card that will replace traditional paper passes for 90,000 riders in San Diego region was put into use on Friday, May 1.

The so-called “Compass Card” is a plastic, reusable, re-loadable monthly transit pass that riders touch against an electronic reader when boarding buses, trolleys and trains.

Riders on Coaster trains and premium express bus routes began using the cards Friday. The passes can be used on North County Transit District Sprinter trains and Breeze buses and on Metropolitan Transit System buses and trolleys starting in June.

Officials from MTS, NCTD and the San Diego Association of Governments demonstrated the new cards at the Santa Fe Depot in downtown San Diego.

“Compass Cards are the perfect next step in the evolution of our transit system” said MTS Vice Chairman Jerry Rindone.

The $40 million system was built by San Diego-based Cubic Corp.