Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority Expands ValleyRide Fare System with Open Payments, Powered by Masabi

LANTA extends its ValleyRide fare system with Open Payments, giving riders the freedom to tap and pay with a contactless card or mobile wallet 

 

The Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority (LANTA) and Masabi, the global leader in enterprise-grade SaaS fare collection for public transit, today announced the launch of Open Payments across the LANTA network, adding contactless bank card, pre-paid debit cards and mobile wallet payment to the ValleyRide fare system. Riders can now pay for their journey by tapping a contactless Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card, or a mobile wallet such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay, with no need to pre-register or purchase a ticket in advance. 

 

The launch builds on LANTA’s ValleyRide Account-Based Ticketing system, introduced with Masabi in 2025, and continues the evolution of LANTA’s fare ecosystem. Riders now have maximum flexibility in how they choose to pay, whether using the ValleyRide smartcard, the Transit app, or a contactless bank card or mobile wallet. Thanks to account linking, riders can also connect their contactless payment card to their ValleyRide account and unlock the full benefits of the system, including fare capping at $5 per day and $70 per month, as well as gaining access to trip history, and concession-based pricing, ensuring eligible riders are always automatically charged the correct reduced fare. 

 

For riders, Open Payments delivers greater convenience and accessibility, removing the need to carry cash or pre-purchase tickets and making LANTA services easier to use for both regular commuters and occasional riders. For LANTA, Open Payments reduces the reliance on cash, speeds up boarding and lowers the operational costs associated with traditional fare collection, while Masabi’s Justride platform manages all payment types through a single, cloud-native back office. 

 

“The launch of Open Payments marks the next step in our commitment to making transit in the Lehigh Valley as simple and flexible as possible for everyone” said Owen O’Neil, Executive Director at LANTA. “ValleyRide already gives our riders the lowest fare with zero hassle, and Open Payments extends that promise to anyone who wants to simply tap their card or phone and ride. Together, they give our riders a complete, modern fare system with the freedom to pay however works best for them.”  

“LANTA has taken a clear and deliberate approach to fare modernization, and the addition of Open Payments is the next significant milestone in that journey,” said Brian Zanghi, CEO of Masabi. “The Lehigh Valley uses a modern, flexible fare system that gives every rider the freedom to pay their way with the reassurance of always getting the best possible fare.”