Universal Transit Farecard Standards (UTFS)Task Force

Tom Parker (TF Chair), BART

Chung Chung Tam

Greg Garback (Spec. Ind. Liaison), WMATA

Dave Phelps, APTA

Rick Barrett Tam (Fin Mgmt Chair), Quattran

Leisa Moniz, Volpe

Tim Weisenberger, Volpe

The Fare Media Committee next meets on Mar 8

The "Trends" document was sent to electronic ballot that closes on Mar 4.

The "Farecard Procurement Procedures" document is in final comment resolution and will potentially be sent to ballot at the Mar 8 Committee meeting.

The Magnetics WG is reviewing the magnetics deliverable and next meets on Feb 27.

Tim reported that the next Fare Media Committee meeting will be Mar 8. The three Work Groups were in the final stages of completing their deliverables.

The Research WG "Trends" document is in electronic ballot. The ballot closed Mar 4.

The Procedural WG "Farecard Procurement Procedures" document is in final comment resolution and may go to electronic ballot at the Mar 8 Committee meeting.

Finally the Magnetic WG is in final WG review of it’s deliverable. Extensive comments were submitted and will be discussed at the next WG call on Feb 27. There is an ongoing IP issue regarding the source document submission that is being resolved as stated in the IP Policy.

The work package teams had meetings Feb 10-12 in Chicago.

Work Package progress:

• WP1- Using RIS document and making changes as necessary
• WP3- Deliverable schedule slipping to Mar 2005.
• WP4- Booz contract in place. Bob Murray managing work.

WP1 & 4 working on glossary and other overlap.

Face-to-Face meetings at the PANYNJ in coordination with the Fare Collection Workshop:

WP1- Thu, Mar 25

WP4- Either Wed, Mar 24 1-6PM or Fri, Mar 26

Tam suggested the glossary must be vetted through the entire task force.

TCIP coordination ongoing. Final course of action still TBD.

Tam reported that the Work package teams met in Chicago on Feb 10-12.

WP 1 & 4 made good progress and are working on a common glossary and other overlap issues. Tam stated that glossary definitions must be vetted through the entire UTFS task force. He suggested that a discussion and vote is needed.

• WP1- relying heavily on the RIS document and making changes to it as required.
• WP3- the team broke into several sub-groups. The deliverable schedule has been pushed out to Mar 2005.
• WP4- Consultant contract is in place (on Feb 11 per Dave/Leisa). Bob Murray has met with Booz and has agreed to manage the work. He is in close proximity to their offices.

Work Package face-to-face meetings:

WP1 will meet Thu, Mar 25.

WP3 will not meet.

WP4 will meet either Wed, Mar 24 in the afternoon/evening or Friday, Mar 26.

Tentatively, the meetings are to be held at the PANYNJ. Tam asked the group if this was acceptable. Tom Parker stated that he had been exchanging messages with NYCT representatives. The group agreed that the PANYNJ was the meeting location.

Glossary definitions must be coordinated across all working groups. Tim W. will update and distribute the glossary of terms.

TCIP update: there are three proposals:

1. Keep fare collection in the TCIP as is and continue coordination
2. Roll the TCIP fare collection work into UTFS
3. Wait for UTFS to generate preliminary information. This will delay TCIP work.

The Steering Committee would like to meet in New York the morning of Wed, Mar 25.

The Steering Committee has finalized:

• The Committee work plan.
• The SOW for a consulting project.

The contract will not exceed $75,000 and the schedule is 24 weeks.

Leisa reported that the Operations Steering Committee has finalized a detailed work plan and a SOW for consulting work. These were forwarded to Tom Parker and Tom Peacock on Feb 25.

The contract is estimated at $75K and 24 weeks. The SOW details three deliverables for a contractor:

1. AFC Strategic Business Plan- Checklist of items and examples for AFC capital investment
2. Examination of Needs- Checklist of items and examples for assessment of current systems to determine future needs.
3. Equipment Review- Checklist of items and examples of equipment review processes for transition to/integration of interoperable systems.

Committee will perform two tasks:

1. A model to plan, develop, implement, and maintain an AFC system. This includes eight areas and is based on previous Committee work and submissions by LACMTA
2. Create a checklist of items and examples of funding options including funding by the transit system, federal, or local government.

Carol Wise would like to hold a Steering Committee meeting during the Fare Collection Workshop. She would like a session 8:30-12:30 Mar 25.

Proposed revision to the IP Policy was distributed to the stakeholders and Task Force leadership for review. Three organizations submitted substantive comments. APTA has developed a proposed resolution and is meeting today to discuss.

APTA will reach out to Tom Parker (Task Force leader) and Tom Margro (Steering Committee leader) for direction to submit policy to recirculation ballot.

APTA may meet with commenters to help achieve resolution.

Dave P. reported that the proposed revision to the IP Policy was distributed to stakeholders and TF leaders for comment. Those comments were due Feb 17. Three organizations submitted substantive comments. APTA reviewed the comments and has developed a proposed a resolution. APTA staff will discuss this resolution today.

The next steps are:

• APTA must get direction from the TF leader (Tom Parker) and the Steering Committee leader (Tom Margro) to submit the policy for a recirculation ballot.
• APTA may decide to have meetings with the commenters to help achieve resolution

Proposed revision to the IP Policy was distributed to the stakeholders and Task Force leadership for review. Three organizations submitted substantive comments.

APTA has developed a proposed resolution and is meeting today to discuss.

APTA will reach out to Tom Parker (Task Force leader) and Tom Margro (Steering Committee leader) for direction to submit policy to recirculation ballot.

APTA may meet with commenters to help achieve resolution.

Tim W. stated that the UTFS program would achieve the development of various documents addressing standards of an interoperable fare collection system. However, document developed would be theoretical in nature and that lab and field tests would be needed to prove the concept. His intent in including this topic for discussion was simply to begin discussions among the leadership about it. As early in the program as a year ago, the topic was brought up. In fact, Mark Nawrath of COTA stated that his agency could be a test site.

Tim noted that in light of the budget discussions the leadership has had, it is prudent to begin discussions about testing of any specifications developed. These costs are not being considered in the 2005 budget. Additionally, Leisa M. stated that vendor certification against the standard will be needed. It was also discussed that maintenance of the standards documents is needed.

Dave Phelps stated that APTA is committed to on-going maintenance and has stated in previous meetings APTA’s desire to develop into a standards issuing body.

Rick B. mentioned the PANYNJ and their development of RIS. He stated that given that RIS is the program baseline, perhaps UTFS can work with them on prototyping.

An action item was given to Tim to develop a high level schedule of next steps regarding this.This could also be a discussion topic at the potential TF Leadership meeting in Brooklyn.