Universal Transit Farecard Standards (UTFS)Task Force

Tom Parker (TF Chair), BART

Greg Garback (Spec Ind Liaison), WMATA

Rick Barrett, (Fin Mgmt Vice-Chair), Quattran

Dave Phelps, APTA

Joe Simonetti (Fare Media Vice-Chair), Metavante

Leisa Moniz, Volpe

Mary Beth Cobleigh-Beal (Ops Co-Chair), CTA

Tim Weisenberger, Volpe

IP Policy accommodation process has not moved forward since the last report. Cubic is developingA a "language format" for readers as well as a high-level system architecture must be developedto submit to APTA.

Until this document is received, APTA cannot make appropriate changes to the IP Policy.

Extensive discussion of the potential approaches to defining the reader interface to the operator system and their IP ramifications resulted in moderate confusion among the group.

ACTION ITEM: Tom Parker will forward an architecture block diagram to help begin the next leadership discussion on this issue and Tim will distribute.

Dave and Tom Parker reported:

The meeting notes for the Aug 4 meeting and the language format for readers are not yet complete. Since APTA does not have these in hand yet, the next step of holding a leadership meeting with key vendors is still on hold. Also, APTA cannot make the updates to the IP Policy until the documentation is submitted.

Dave and Tom explained that the reason for this approach is to include a fairly technical discussion of a Fare Management System and specifically why the method of specifying a reader API would require exposure of intellectual property and the method of creating a language format would not.

The bottom line is that architecture and design of a system is a key issue pertaining to the IP policy. The two main issues raised in the Aug 4 meeting were:

1. A review of the recommended architecture proposed by APTA that would keep all parties in the issue happy.
2. Once the first point is addressed, finalizing the IP policy.

There was a general note of caution discussed by the group. Joe S. stated that agencies are striving to gain control over various system components and they are still learning the intricacies of requiring system designs and architectures. Tom agreed and stated that this was a full day discussion at the Aug 4 meeting and that multiple technical people were brought into the meeting to advance the discussion. Dave stated that the document to be submitted to APTA will display a block diagram of the architecture of a Fare Mgmt system and identify blocks that will be protected (contain IP) and those that will be open as well as the interfaces that will be open.

Tim expressed concern that a system architecture is being crafted without input from multiple vendors at this point, which in the past has been cited as a needed deliverable of the program. Dave and Tom stated that the block diagram would be very generic, but the identification of the pieces that are open and those containing protected IP is the issue. This would then be vetted through all key vendor stakeholders at a face-to-face meeting at APTA.

Dave stated that the architecture diagram Tom Parker has presented in the past is an example of the level of detail. Tom will distribute this document to the leadership to help them understand the issue at hand, but Tom and Dave identified that a leadership meeting will be needed to fully understand it.

The 2005 FCW is a good opportunity to do outreach and training on the UTFS cord specification¾ the first specification produced by the UTFS program.

Proposed UTFS activities at the 2005 FCW are:

1. A ½-day training session to discuss the practical use of the spec
2. A presentation of the spec in the general workshop sessions
3. A high-level UTFS presentation in the general workshop sessions

Additional outreach/training opportunities:

• Story about the spec in the RMC newsletter. Norm Diamond is the contact for the newsletter.
• APTA Webinar to cover the technical details of the spec
• A UTFS leader become active in the RMC’s FCW planning Sub-committee

ACTION ITEM: Tom Parker will attend the next FCW planning teleconference and will actively work with that sub-committee.

Tim reported:

It is now an opportune time to look at what activities the leadership would like to plan for the 2005 FCW. The WP1 team discussed the need to reach out to the industry to begin to train the agencies and vendors alike on the use of the smart card specification¾ the first specification produced by the UTFS program.

Tim referenced the outreach document he sent the group before the Aug 12 leadership call and suggested the following steps to outreach to the APTA membership:

1. A ½-day training session to discuss the practical use of the spec
2. A presentation of the spec in the general workshop sessions
3. A high-level UTFS presentation in the general workshop sessions

Tim asked for feedback on this approach. Joe stated he chaired the RNC sub-committee planning the workshop. He stated that one concern the group is addressing is the length of the workshop. They are striving to keep it briefer than in the past. The first day will still be a training day. The group is currently looking at the content of the advanced training session. Additionally, Joe stated that the sessions are planned from a structural standpoint, but that the specific content is not set.

Joe suggested several points to consider for outreach:

1. Norm Diamond is heading a newsletter for the RMC. This is a good first step to outreach to RMC member organizations
2. APTA has had good results from setting up Webinars in the past. This would be a good approach to allow the WP1 team to cover the technical details of the spec
3. A ½-day training session at the Fare Collection workshop
4. A UTFS leadership member become active in the FCW planning sub-committee

The group agreed with these points. Tom Parker volunteered to attend the next FCW planning teleconference that is either Sep 8 or Sep 15. Joe also pointed out that Ed Pollan is responsible for the program.

The "Farecard Procurement Procedures" document was approved on 7/19, but final comments must be resolved prior to the next Fare Media Comm meeting.

The Magnetics WG is battling participation issues. Agency members are hesitant to specify data elements.

Individual emails will be sent to the WG distribution confirming their desire to participate or to be placed on ‘auditing member’ status. If a quorum can be achieved, the document can proceed with a placeholder for data elements.

Tim reported:

The Farecard Procurement Procedures document has been approved, but final comments must be resolved. There are still a few comments remaining to be resolved prior to the next Fare Media Comm call.

The Magnetic Fare Media WG has had participation issues and has not been able to officially meet in two months. Rich Lobron has determined that the agency members are hesitant to participate in the group since one goal is to specify data elements.

The plan is to send individual emails to WG members requiring response and participation in the upcoming WG meeting or the member will be removed from the distribution. The leaders recommended that instead of removing members, they be placed into an ‘auditing member’ status. Hopefully the active roster will be sufficiently trimmed to achieve quorums.

The WG will strive to approve the document with a placeholder for the data elements.

The Business issues document is still not edited.

ACTION ITEM: Rick Barrett will discuss with Tom Peacock.

Work Package Updates:

WP1 will send their spec to a Committee ballot approximately Sep 15.

WP2- Still TBD

WP3 is still on schedule for a Dec 04 completion.

WP4- A sub-group has determined that the RIS part 4 will be a baseline for the central system-regional clearing interface. The WP will have a face-to-face meeting Sep 22 in Cambridge in coordination with the CEN-UTFS workshop. The BAH study will be extended to include a review of the RIS Part 4. Once approved by APTA, the final report will be ready in one month.

Rick reported:

The Business issues document is still not edited. The APTA editor is not with the program any longer. ACTION ITEM: Rick Barrett will discuss with Tom Peacock.

Work Package Activities:

WP1 will send their spec to a Committee ballot approximately Sep 15

WP2- still TBD

WP3 is still on schedule for a Dec 04 completion.

WP4

A sub-group is examining the submissions of Cubic, ERG, and the RIS part 4 to use as a baseline for the central system to regional clearing system interface. The group decided to use the RIS as a baseline. WP4 is planning a face-to-face meeting in Cambridge Sep 22 in coordination with the CEN IFM workshop. Finally, the BAH study has been expanded to include a review of the RIS part 4. Once this is approved by APTA, the final report will be ready in one month.

The RFP committee met with APTA to discuss the six RFP responses and the scoring sheet. Scoring is due Aug 30. The next meeting will be Sep 3.

Mary Beth reported:

The RFP committee met with APTA and distributed the six responses and the scoring sheet. The RFP committee will review the six responses and score them by Aug 30. The next meeting will be Sep 3.

Outreach activities:

1. The Smart Card Alliance annual meeting will be held Oct 18-20 in San Francisco. Tom Parker will give a UTFS presentation.
2. Proposed workshop at MasterCard Int’l in Purchase, NY for reps of each industry to learn about the needs and issues of the other
3. Greg has a meeting in Sep with AMEX to begin discussions.

There will be a formal approach to repeating this process with AMEX and Visa¾ perhaps a letter from the TF leadership.

ACTION ITEM: Greg will formalize this approach to AMEX and Visa.

Greg reported:

The Smart Card Alliance annual meeting will be held Oct 18-20 in San Francisco. This meeting is an ideal opportunity to do outreach. Tom Parker will give a UTFS presentation including short term and long term program goals.

The outreach to the financial sector is proceeding. There is a proposed workshop at MasterCard International in Purchase, NY to learn about the needs and issues of each industry (financial and transit). This is proposed for approximately the second week of November (approx Nov 9-10). Joe asked is there was a plan to send a letter from the Task Force leadership to American Express and Visa offering the same opportunity. Greg stated that he has a meeting with AMEX in September to start this discussion.

ACTION ITEM: Greg will formalize this approach to AMEX and Visa.