View source for Compass Card (San Diego)

{{Short description|Public transit smart card}}
{{About|the former contactless payment system in San Diego|its successor|Pronto (smart card)}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox electronic payment
|image=                [[File:Compass-logo.svg|200px]] <br /><br />
{{center|<big>'''Compass Card Examples'''</big>}}<br />
<div style="float:left;text-align:center;">[[File:Compass Card Example.svg|100px]]<br /><small>2007 Series <br /> Compass Card</small></div>
<div style="float:right;text-align:center;">[[File:Compass card 2010.svg|100px]]<br /><small>2010 Series <br /> Compass Card</small></div>
|name=Compass Card
|other_names=        Tarjeta Compass (Spanish)
|location=           [[San Diego County, California|San Diego County]]
|launched=May 1, 2009{{Efn|Official launch date; pilot testing began in September 2008, and paper monthly passes discontinued in 2010}}
|discontinued={{end date and age|2021|08|31}}
|successor=           [[Pronto (smart card)|Pronto]]
|service_1=           [[San Diego Metropolitan Transit System|MTS Bus]]
|service_2=           [[San Diego Trolley|MTS Trolley]]
|service_3=           [[North County Transit District|NCTD Breeze]]
|service_4=           [[Coaster (rail service)|NCTD Coaster]]
|service_5=           [[Sprinter (rail service)|NCTD Sprinter]]
|sales_location_1= Online
|sales_location_2=[[5-1-1]] San Diego
|sales_location_3=[[Ticket machine|Ticket Vending Machines]] at Trolley and train stops
|sales_location_4=The Transit Store at 12th & Imperial Transit Center
|sales_location_5=Select [[Albertsons]] and check cashing locations
|currency=            USD
|stored_value=
|credit_expiry=
|maximum_credit=      Stored value credit; 4-day, 14-day and 30-day passes|
|automatic_recharge=  Available upon request for registered cardholders
|unlimited_use=
|variant_1=           Adult Compass Card
|variant_2=           Youth Compass Card <br /> ''(50% Discount)''
|variant_3=           Senior-Disabled-[[Medicare (United States)|Medicare]] Compass Card ''(75% Discount)''
|technology_1=        [[MIFARE|MIFARE Classic 1K]]
|technology_2=        TouchPass
|operator= [[Cubic Transportation Systems]]
|manager=             [[San Diego Association of Governments]] (SANDAG)
|homepage=            http://compass.511sd.com
}}

The '''Compass Card''' (Spanish: ''Tarjeta Compass'') was the first-generation [[Contactless smart card|smart card]] used for [[automated fare collection]] on public transport services within [[San Diego County, California]]. Administered by the [[San Diego Association of Governments]] (SANDAG), it was valid on a number of different travel systems in San Diego County including [[San Diego Metropolitan Transit System|MTS buses]], the [[San Diego Trolley]], [[North County Transit District|North County Buses]], the [[Coaster (rail service)|Coaster]] and the [[Sprinter (rail service)|Sprinter]]. The system was operated by [[Cubic Transportation Systems]]. Phased out over the third quarter of 2021, it was discontinued on August 31, and its successor, [[Pronto (smart card)|Pronto]], launched the following day.<ref>{{cite press release|date=June 17, 2021|url=https://www.sdmts.com/inside-mts/news-release/mts-board-approves-ride-free-september-pronto|title=MTS Board Approves Ride Free in September with Pronto|publisher=San Diego Metropolitan Transit System|access-date=June 19, 2021}}</ref>

==Description==
The Compass Card was an orange or yellow, credit-card-sized contactless smartcard which held a transit pass. The Compass Card card must be tapped on electronic readers when entering and transferring within the system in order to validate it. Compass Card readers were integrated in bus fareboxes and standalone readers are located just outside the paid area of rail stations. Because the [[San Diego Trolley]], [[Coaster (rail service)|Coaster]] and [[Sprinter (rail service)|Sprinter]] operate on a [[proof-of-payment]] system, fare inspectors randomly checked to make sure Compass Card users have validated their cards by using a wireless handheld unit. The cards were "recharged" in person from TVMs in rail stations, at MTS or NCTD Transit Offices, at Albertsons stores, or online. The card is designed to reduce the number of transactions at customer service centers.
Initially the [[San Diego Association of Governments]] only offered monthly passes on the compass card system-wide, and 14-day passes via telephone. Stored cash value cards were introduced in 2017,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVQaoCHzOeo|title=Introducing Compass Cash via YouTube|publisher=San Diego Metropolitan Transit system|date=June 27, 2017|access-date=February 8, 2021}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}}</ref> with plans in the future capable of automatically purchasing a day pass on the first tap.

==Capabilities==
Customers are able to perform the following transactions at the corresponding locations with a Compass Card as indicated below:
{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
!
! Legend
|-
| [[File:Green check.svg|25px|center]]
| Available and functioning
|-
| [[File:Gold check mark.svg|25px|center]]
| Available and functioning<br />
''Full adult fare only''
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! Locations
! Buy a <br /> new card
! Reload an <br /> existing card
! Pay <br /> with cash
! Pay <br /> with credit / debit
! Sign up <br /> for auto reload
! Register <br /> your card
|-
| The Transit Store
| [[File:Green check.svg|25px|center]]
| [[File:Green check.svg|25px|center]]
| [[File:Green check.svg|25px|center]]
| [[File:Green check.svg|25px|center]]
| [[File:Green check.svg|25px|center]]
|
|-
| Call [[5-1-1|511]] and say "Compass Card"
| [[File:Gold check mark.svg|25px|center]]
| [[File:Green check.svg|25px|center]]
|
| [[File:Green check.svg|25px|center]]
| [[File:Green check.svg|25px|center]]
| [[File:Green check.svg|25px|center]]
|-
| [https://compasscard.511sd.com/webtix/ Compass Card account management website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429192302/https://compasscard.511sd.com/webtix/ |date=April 29, 2011 }}
| [[File:Gold check mark.svg|25px|center]]
| [[File:Green check.svg|25px|center]]
|
| [[File:Green check.svg|25px|center]]
| [[File:Green check.svg|25px|center]]
| [[File:Green check.svg|25px|center]]
|-
| [[San Diego Trolley|Trolley]], [[Coaster (rail service)|Coaster]], and [[Sprinter (rail service)|Sprinter]] [[ticket vending machine]]s
| [[File:Gold check mark.svg|25px|center]]
| [[File:Green check.svg|25px|center]]
| [[File:Green check.svg|25px|center]]
| [[File:Green check.svg|25px|center]]
|
|
|-
| Select San Diego county [[Albertsons (SuperValu)|Albertsons]] and check cashing locations
and Transit Center "MTS Station Shops"
| [[File:Green check.svg|25px|center]]
| [[File:Green check.svg|25px|center]]
| [[File:Green check.svg|25px|center]]
| [[File:Green check.svg|25px|center]]
|
|
|}

==Implementation==
The following process took place when a user tapped 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, and displays the results
* Reports the rider's activity to the Compass Card server
:''(rail validators synchronize data immediately, bus validators have a 12- to 24-hour delay)''
* Writes the new balance and/or passes
:''(if applicable)''

The next behavior depended 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 [[frequency shift-keying]] 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 were displayed on the reader screen included, but 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]] offered the following benefits to all Compass Card users:
* First Compass Card cost $2
* 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 USD)
* [[Internet|Online]] store & card management
* Telephone customer service
* Photo ID integration (for [[old age|senior]]-[[disabled]]-[[Medicare (United States)|medicare]] or [[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 could be loaded onto the Compass Card at the cost of 60% of a monthly pass (adult Regional and Premium passes only).
<nowiki>*</nowiki>Proof of eligibility will be needed at time of purchase and Photo ID will be printed on the compass card, replacing existing Transit IDs.

==Photo gallery==
{{Gallery
|File:Compass card trolley validator.jpg|A Compass Card rail validator
|File:Compass Card Multifare Tivcket Vending Machine.png|Computer rendering of a Compass Card ticket machine
|File:Compassfarebox.jpg|A Compass Card being tapped on an integrated farebox validator
|File:CompassCardTapSymbol.svg|Compass Card Validator Symbol
|title=}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
# [http://compass.511sd.com Compass Card] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080713214737/http://compass.511sd.com/ |date=July 13, 2008 }}
# [https://web.archive.org/web/20120713130443/http://www.sdmts.com/ Metropolitan Transit System]
# [http://www.gonctd.com North County Transit District]
# [http://www.511sd.com San Diego's Traffic, Transit and Commute Info] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080217050757/http://www.511sd.com/ |date=February 17, 2008 }}
# [http://compass.511sd.com/PDFs/CompassCardFAQs_May2010.pdf Compass Card FAQs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007020907/http://compass.511sd.com/PDFs/CompassCardFAQs_May2010.pdf |date=October 7, 2011 }}

{{San Diego Trolley}}
{{Coaster (rail service) navbox}}
{{Public Transportation in Greater San Diego}}

[[Category:Contactless smart cards]]
[[Category:Public transportation in San Diego County, California]]
[[Category:Fare collection systems in the United States]]
[[Category:2008 establishments in California]]