TVM Payment Systems & The OKC Streetcar
In December 2018, Oklahoma City began operation of its new streetcar system. In its first month, the OKC Streetcar had 20,528 riders. The number grew to over 48,000 by June 2019. A high traffic route, convenient stop locations, and easy ticket transactions are significant contributors to the OKC Streetcars success to date.
However, even the best-laid tracks and perfectly placed stops aren’t enough to keep riders coming back if the ticketing process is difficult, frustrating, and time-consuming. The TVM payment systems sold and installed at each streetcar stop by Wetherbee Electric make it quick and easy for passengers to purchase tickets.
If you operate a parking or transportation business, you can’t afford to miss out on the convenience of an automated ticketing system. In this article, you’ll learn how the OKC Streetcar benefits from TVM payment systems.
The OKC Streetcar
The OKC Streetcar is a public transportation system that the city completed in December 2018. It connects downtown Oklahoma City with Bricktown, Midtown and Automobile Alley and passes landmarks like Scissortail Park, the Convention Center, and the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
The downtown area has experienced tremendous growth since the city announced that it would build a streetcar system in 2011. Companies in proximity to the streetcar line have created about 5,700 new jobs, a 16% increase, to support the surge in business. There are also 1,860 new housing units and seven new hotels to meet the high demand for lodging downtown.
The entire streetcar system is ADA accessible, and using the streetcar is both environmentally friendly and economical. Fares start at just $1 per ride or $3 per day. Senior citizens and children ages seven to seventeen ride for half price, while children six and under ride free.
Approximately 4,000 residents and visitors ride the OKC Streetcar each day. To make ticketing a smooth, hassle-free experience for streetcar patrons, Wetherbee Electric has sold and installed TVM payment systems at each stop.
What are TVM Payment Systems?
TVM, or ticket vending machine, payment systems make it easy for streetcar riders to purchase tickets. There are 22 stops on the OKC Streetcar loop, and each one has a Flowbird TVM payment system.
The meters accept cash, coin, or credit card. To make the payment process convenient for passengers, you can pay for several tickets in a single transaction. Simply enter the number and type of ticket you need (adult, child, senior, one ride, one day, etc.), pay for the ticket(s), and get a printed receipt with a QR code.
To make your ride even more environmentally friendly, you can purchase your ticket on the EMBARK Mobile Fare App instead of printing a ticket.
In the future, Wetherbee Electric will be working with the city to sell and install updated TVM payment systems in parking facilities near OKC Streetcar stops. At the upgraded TVM systems, customers will be able to pay for their parking and their streetcar tickets in a single transaction. As the OKC Streetcar system evolves, rides will become even more convenient for all passengers.
Wetherbee and Flowbird
TVM systems by Flowbird are economical and convenient for facility owners and customers. Collecting fares at a TVM rather than on the streetcar is faster for passengers, and the system has a user-friendly interface to make the purchase highly convenient. TVMs also offer greater security for streetcar operators who no longer need to handle cash transactions on-board.
The TVM units are incredibly reliable and secure. They feature a double-walled cashbox and armor-plated safe to resist theft. They’re also well protected against digital theft of sensitive financial data.
As a long time Flowbird distributor, Wetherbee offers on-site repairs to the OKC Streetcar TVM systems within minutes. The TVM systems are highly reliable and rarely have issues, but municipalities and parking facility owners can rest easy knowing that their payment portals will be serviced quickly by a Wetherbee TVM expert.
When you choose Wetherbee for your TVM sales and installations, you’ll benefit from our full range of expertise. Wetherbee is an electrical contractor first, so we’re able to complete the TVM installations from start to finish rather than subcontracting out portions of the work. When several firms are involved with the sale and installation, the price of a project can rise quickly. Working with Wetherbee keeps the cost of your installation down.
Are TVM Payment Systems Right for Your Facility?
Wetherbee specializes in turnkey solutions for businesses and municipalities that use TVM payment systems by providing sales, installations, and maintenance. If you’re interested in learning about how you can improve your patron’s parking or ticketing experience with Flowbird TVMs, contact us today.
