Notices by Michael Kohlman (norombasic@mastodon.world)

The Monterey-Salinas Transit Board today approved the selection of JAWNT - jawntpass.com - to be our FinTech partner in the deployment of a Contactless, Open-Loop, Open-Standards, Mobility Pass/Wallet to replace our closed "MST-Only" GO Pass card.

To the best of my knowledge, this will be a first-of-its-kind solution in mainstream public transportation fare collections in the World.

Relaxin'

A Mother and Pup California Harbor Seal are relaxing in the shallow water, on a small section of beach located between Hopkins Marine Station and Lovers Point.

Pacific Grove (Monterey Bay) California.

#Photography #WildlifePhotography #HarborSeals #Seals

(Random noodling about Public Transportation Technology on a Friday Afternoon)

One of the interesting and growing battles in Public Transportation these days (U.S for this thread, but it is happening in other countries as well) is over the future of fare collection systems.

It is something I have found myself more deeply involved in that I ever expected to be.

A quick-and-dirty history:

/1

@Gargron 🎉

@Gargron Great...

Now I am going to have to explain to my S/O why I just bought this as well as the My "Friends Are Not For Sale" Shirt...

@Gargron This was thing?

Damn...

RE: https://mastodon.world/@NoRomBasic/116138432446229818

I can finally disclose the latest California Public Transportation Agency to provide a Letter of Intent to be a part of this initiative.

🥁 - SunLine Transit (Thousand Palms CA)

This now means that a total of 11 agencies (including MST) have committed to an Open-Loop, Open-Standards fare ecosystem and a Bus Pass/Wallet that adheres to that approach.

Change comes slowly sometimes, but it is indeed coming...

For those that don't read all my ramblings, MST has been working on a transformational (at least for the U.S.) way of collecting fares in public transportation that hit a major milestone when we issued an RFP for an open-standards-friendly transportation card/pass/digital wallet.

The launch included 9 other agencies that have signed letters of intent to adopt this ecosystem. Today I was informed that a 10th will be joining.

I love the smell of momentum in the morning.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/michaelkohlman_i-am-incredibly-excited-to-announce-that-activity-7420575953317388288-Spnv?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAHf9LoB2eOI6Nstt1OgPFU4JS1rEu-jZuI

Yeah, the link is on LinkedIn, I know... 🤷

Also, while I can't announce the agency coming on-board yet, they will be in the SoCal area, which will means this coalition will run all the way from Riverside County in the south, to Humboldt County in the North.

Hopefully in a year or so, this will become a major step towards creating a wallet/pass that will work on many diverse transportation systems in the State of California.

Two longtime board directors resign as San Joaquin Regional Transit District upheaval continues:

https://stocktonia.org/news/transportation/2026/02/24/two-longtime-board-directors-resign-as-rtd-upheaval-continues/

📢 Public Service CIO Opportunity Alert!

The California Energy Commission is seeking a Chief Information Officer - Comp Range is $124K to $170K annually:

#Jobs #ITJobs #CIOJobs #Careers #ITCareers #CIOCareers #PublicService #PayItForward #MakeADifference

https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=505916

Nice to see this post in Nextgov this morning as Monterey-Salinas Transit was one of the participating agencies in the drafting of this framework.

Most smaller public transportation agencies lack the in-house expertise to defend theirs systems.

Most don't even know where to begin.

Hopefully this guidance will help:

"NIST releases a new draft cybersecurity framework for systems that never stop moving - Sometimes the most important cybersecurity work is not flashy."

https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/01/nist-releases-new-draft-cybersecurity-framework-systems-never-stop-moving/411074/?oref=ng-home-top-story

As a CIO in a Public Service Role, more than a few statements hit home here:

https://civilla.org/stories/courage-and-humanity

San Francisco Bay Area transportation is at a crossroads: These are the 10 issues to watch in 2026:

{San Francisco Chronicle via Transit Talent}

https://www.transittalent.com/articles/index.cfm?story=SF_Bay_Area_Transporation_Is_At_Crossroads_12-31-2025

Trump fires the person responsible for jobs reports after they release negative numbers.

Numbers since have improved, despite data from other providers showing different.

Nope, nothing to see here...

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/fed-chair-warns-trump-admin-163052814.html

The #Plushtodon was Placed by the Stockings with Care, In Hopes that Saint Nicolas Soon Would Be There:

🚌 Monterey-Salinas Transit December Board Meeting in 20 minutes (10:00am PST)

🌎 https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84500836234?
pwd=aFQ0YUdjd3Y0eW94WmtRZ1Myc0VIdz09

🌎 Meeting ID: 845 0083 6234 | Passcode: 652252

☎️ To attend by phone: (669) 900-6833

#publictransportation #publicmeetings #publictransit

Chief Innovation Officer with the City of Richmond California - ($140k - $180k)

https://www.governmentjobs.com/jobs/5087599-0/chief-innovation-officer-open-until-filled

A Walk Through The Clouds:

One of Evelia and my first California “vacations” was to spend Thanksgiving at Sequoia National Park. While the great trees were impressive, there were a number of smaller moments that made the trip truly special. This one, for example, was taken very early on the Day-After-Thanksgiving along the high trails, completely enshrouded in the clouds.

It was cold, quiet, and about as Zen as a moment can get…

#SilentSunday #Photography #LandscapePhotography #NationalParks