Ever heard the phrase work smarter, not harder? It applies to your transit commute, too. There are a lot of ways we’re working to make taking transit easier. From improving and adding payment options on PRONTO, to more ways to see when the next bus or Trolley is coming on-the-go – check out some of the tools available now, and coming soon, to learn how MTS is making transit smarter for a better transit trip.
Millions of Contactless Payments, and Counting
Less than a year after launching contactless payments for its system, more than 1 million trips had been paid for using the technology, making MTS the first California transit agency to have 1 million contactless payment trips.
Less than six months after that milestone, more than 2 million trips was achieved in fall 2025.
Contactless payments give riders more flexibility when choosing how to pay for transit, and can make for a more seamless customer experience. Learn more about the convenient ways to pay for your trip on transit.
Financial Sustainability Strategies
In a time when many transit agencies are facing immediate funding gaps, MTS is working to create the best chance for long-term stability for our communities.
Through a series of strategic proposals, our staff and Board have approved a tentative plan to push out our funding deficit, originally projected to begin in Fiscal 2029, for two additional years, until Fiscal Year 2031. This will give MTS the best opportunity to find a new, more permanent revenue stream (through local or state funding, for example).
Read our Financial Sustainability Fact Sheet to learn more.
Comprehensive Operational Analysis: Streamlining the System
Among peer transit agencies, MTS is one of the most efficient transit operators (putting out a high level of service compared to funding received). In summer 2025, MTS kicked off a new Comprehensive Operational Analysis (COA) to help ensure that we’re still running the most efficient service possible. The COA will help identify ways to maximize service levels on existing routes, and options for future service development plans.
The COA this year is a bit unique, as MTS prepares for two possible futures of transit funding:
- Plan One: Added and Expanded Service. If MTS receives more funding, not just to backfill the funding deficit, but also to provide additional budget, the plan will outline areas where more service can be added.
- Plan Two: Reduced Service. If MTS does not receive any new funding and faces a $100+ million funding gap, the second COA plan will outline how to apply service cuts to help keep the system as sustainable as possible.
Learn more about the COA process, and get involved by following on MTS OnTrack process.
