Compass Card
Encyclopedia
The Compass Card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within San Diego County, California. It is administered by the San Diego Association of Governments
and is valid on a number of different travel systems in San Diego County including MTS buses, the San Diego Trolley
(with the exception of the Silver Line
), North County Busses
, the Coaster and the Sprinter.
The card and fare collection systems are manufactured by Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc. and SANDAG administers the Compass Call Center (CCC) a central call center for all agencies.
, the Coaster and the Sprinter are currently barrier free systems, fare inspectors check to make sure compass card users have validated their card by using a wireless handheld unit. The cards may be "recharged" in person from TVM's in Rail stations, at MTS or NCTD Transit Offices, at any VONS store or online. The card is designed to reduce the number of transactions at Customer Service Centers.
Currently the San Diego Association of Governments
only sells monthly passes on the compass card system-wide, and 14day passes via telephone, but plans to sell stored cash value cards in the future capable of automatically purchasing a day pass on the first "tap".
The next behavior depends on the reader:
Read errors that are displayed on the reader screen can include, but are not limited to:
San Diego Association of Governments
The San Diego Association of Governments is an association of local San Diego County governments. It is the metropolitan planning organization for the County, with policy makers consisting of mayors, councilmembers, and a County Supervisors, and also has capital planning and fare setting powers...
and is valid on a number of different travel systems in San Diego County including MTS buses, the San Diego Trolley
San Diego Trolley
The San Diego Trolley is a light rail system operating in the metropolitan area of San Diego. The operator, San Diego Trolley, Inc. , is a subsidiary of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System ...
(with the exception of the Silver Line
Silver Line (San Diego Trolley)
The Silver Line is one of one of two supplementary and five overall light rail lines operated by the San Diego Trolley, an operating division of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System...
), North County Busses
North County Transit District
The North County Transit District is the agency responsible for public transportation in North San Diego County, California, United States...
, the Coaster and the Sprinter.
The card and fare collection systems are manufactured by Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc. and SANDAG administers the Compass Call Center (CCC) a central call center for all agencies.
Description
The Compass Card is a orange or yellow, credit-card-sized contactless smartcard which can hold a Transit Pass. The Compass Card card must tapped on electronic readers when entering and transferring within the system in order to validate it. Compass Card readers are integrated in bus fareboxes and standalone readers are located just outside of the paid area of Rail stations. Because San Diego TrolleySan Diego Trolley
The San Diego Trolley is a light rail system operating in the metropolitan area of San Diego. The operator, San Diego Trolley, Inc. , is a subsidiary of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System ...
, the Coaster and the Sprinter are currently barrier free systems, fare inspectors check to make sure compass card users have validated their card by using a wireless handheld unit. The cards may be "recharged" in person from TVM's in Rail stations, at MTS or NCTD Transit Offices, at any VONS store or online. The card is designed to reduce the number of transactions at Customer Service Centers.
Currently the San Diego Association of Governments
San Diego Association of Governments
The San Diego Association of Governments is an association of local San Diego County governments. It is the metropolitan planning organization for the County, with policy makers consisting of mayors, councilmembers, and a County Supervisors, and also has capital planning and fare setting powers...
only sells monthly passes on the compass card system-wide, and 14day passes via telephone, but plans to sell stored cash value cards in the future capable of automatically purchasing a day pass on the first "tap".
Capabilities
Customers will be able to perform the following transactions at the corresponding locations with a Compass Card as indicated below| Legend | |
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Available And Functioning |
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Available And Functioning Full Adult Fare ONLY |
| Locations | Buy a new card |
Reload an existing card |
Pay with cash |
Pay with credit / debit |
Sign up for auto reload |
Register your card |
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| The Transit Store | |
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| Call 511 5-1-1 5-1-1, initially designated for road weather information, is a transportation and traffic information telephone hotline in some regions of the United States and Canada. Travelers can dial the three-digit telephone number 5-1-1 on traditional landline telephones and most mobile phones. It is an N11... and say "Compass Card" |
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| Compass Card account management website | |
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| Trolley San Diego Trolley The San Diego Trolley is a light rail system operating in the metropolitan area of San Diego. The operator, San Diego Trolley, Inc. , is a subsidiary of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System ... , Coaster, and Sprinter ticket vending machines |
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| Select San Diego county Vons Vons Vons is a southern California and southern Nevada supermarket chain and a division of Safeway Inc. It is headquartered in Arcadia, California, and operates stores under the Vons and Pavilions banners.-Beginning:... and check cashing locations |
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Implementation
The following process takes place when a user "taps" their card on a reader:- Authenticates the microchip's serial number (to avoid counterfeited or stolen cards)
- Reads the rider's balance and/or passes
- Reports the rider's activity to the Compass Card server
- Writes the new balance (if applicable)
The next behavior depends on the reader:
- Displays a Thank You message along with a small green light for on-platform readers such as the Coaster, Sprinter, and San Diego Trolley.
- Shows green light and beeps once if Compass Card has valid fare, or shows a red light with an error message and beeps three times if the card is not valid or a read error occurs, for readers installed next to fareboxes. For passes, the expiration date of the pass is also displayed when the green light is lit and the reader beeps once.
- Beeps once if the Compass card has valid fare, or beeps three times if the card is not valid or a read error occurs, for readers integrated into the farebox. For passes, the expiration date of the pass is also displayed shortly after the reader beeps once.
- The driver's side computer will also show OK for a successful pass read. A type of bird vocalization that sounds different from the standard confirmation beep will occur for Youth or Senior/Disabled/Medicare passes that are valid, and the driver's side computer will show YTH for the Youth pass or SDM for the Senior/Disabled/Medicare pass.
Read errors that are displayed on the reader screen can include, but are not limited to:
- Invalid CRC.
- Invalid Card, can occur the first time on some readers even with a valid card, but if the card is valid a second attempt will register correctly. (The driver's side computer will show as NV for an invalid card error).
- Operation Failed, if an add value was initiated from the farebox computer but did not work.
- Read Error. (Seems to occur only on some readers integrated into the farebox, and turning the card sideways when tapping may work around this problem).
- Feedback used too soon. (The driver's side computer will show as FBK for a feedback related error).
- Already Touched.
Benefits
SANDAG offers the following benefits to all Compass Card users:- First Compass Card now cost $2.00
- Automatic refill (registered users only)
- Pass or balance replacement on lost or stolen cards (does not cover the retail cost of a new card, $2.00 USD)
- OnlineInternetThe Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
store & card management (account manager for express passholders only) - Telephone customer service
- Photo ID integration was offered, but has been discontinued (for seniorOld ageOld age consists of ages nearing or surpassing the average life span of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle...
-disabled-medicareMedicare (United States)Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over; to those who are under 65 and are permanently physically disabled or who have a congenital physical disability; or to those who meet other...
or youthYouthYouth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
discount pass pass-holders only) - Compass Card users may purchase a 30 day "rolling pass" valid for 30 days from the date of purchase in addition to the traditional monthly pass good for a calendar month (monthly pass only for adult Sprinter/Breeze).
- 14-day passes can be loaded onto the Compass Card at the cost of 60% of a monthly pass (adult Regional and Premium passes only).