Universal Transit Farecard Standards (UTFS)Task Force

Tom Parker (TF Chair), BART

Joe Simonetti (Fare Media Vice Chair)

Henry Rosen (Fare Media Chair), PATH

Martin Schroeder, APTA

Chung Chung Tam (Fin Mgmt Chair), CTA

Dave Phelps, APTA

Rick Barrett (Fin Mgmt Vice-Chair), Quattran

Leisa Moniz, Volpe

Greg Garback (Spec Ind Liaison), WMATA

Tim Weisenberger, Volpe

Magnetic Stripe Instrument Guideline and Farecard Procurement Procedures documents have both been approved by the committee, but have final comments to resolve.

Action Item: Henry and Tim must generate an approach and estimate for completion of the documents.

Henry reported:

Fare Media Committee has not met in several months, but there are two documents approved by the committee that had subsequent comment. The Magnetic Stripe instrument Guideline had one dissenting vote with the comment that the data element table should be removed. The Farecard Procurement Procedures document had general comments from APTA legal staff that it was not specific enough to fare collection. Both documents need final comment resolution.

Tim noted that given the Magnetic specification now proposed, the guideline document can easily have the data element table removed and reference the specification to be developed.

Tim and Henry took on the action item to get together a milestone estimate for completion of the documents.

WP1- Alex Pi is the new leader. The group is resolving comments to the smart card specification. A sub-group is assigned to perform this task.

Action: Martin and Tim will work with Alex Pi regarding APTA’s ownership of the specification’s numbering scheme.

WP3- Security guideline is in committee level review that closes 2/25/05. Comment resolution is ongoing.

WP4 is experiencing a key debate related to the PANYNJ proposal to split WP4’s work into 2 pieces, one spec based on RIS Pt 4-based system and a second spec that takes this first spec and creates a more generic spec that can accommodate non-WP1 spec compliant card schemes. WP4 leaders ask that the TF leadership clarify the importance of addressing legacy systems in their spec.

Action: The leadership directed that the WP4 team should hold their vote on the proposal. Financial Management leadership should communicate this to the WP4 leaders.

Tam reported:

WP1 is resolving extensive comments to the smart card specification. Alexander Pi is now the WP1 leader. He created a sub-group to address comment resolution and they are resolving 5 comments per week. There are over 120 comments. One issue that arose is the need for APTA to take the responsibility to maintain the numbering scheme (and assign numbers to regions and agencies) in order to ensure discreet card numbering. Martin and Tim took on the action item to work with Alex Pi on this issue.

The WP3 team is resolving comments received to the Security Guideline in the committee review period. This review period closes 2/25/05.

The WP4 team is experiencing a key debate related to the PANYNJ proposal to split WP4’s work into 2 pieces: 1. A spec based on RIS Pt 4-based system and 2. A second spec that modifies the spec in (1.) and creates a more generic spec that can accommodate non-WP1 spec compliant card schemes.

WP4 leaders ask that the TF leadership clarify the importance of addressing legacy systems in their spec. Specifically whether this is a prime mandate of the WP4. Rick Barrett suggested that the leaders develop a brief policy statement and took on the action to create a draft to send to the leaders. Tim W. and Rick stated that the debate was only from one organization and that the ballot would probably pass easily. Tom Parker advocated using the processes the program has in place for resolving the issue. He directed that WP4 should proceed with their ballot. If the WP4 team is close to agreement only one organization that opposes the PANYNJ proposal, the ballot process should readily resolve the matter.

Tam stated that the committee would begin to examine reorganization since the business Issues document is complete.

Tom stated that four elements were presented to the Rail CEOs:

1. Program Budget- requested $350K from the SDOC
2. WP4+ Agreement- Approved
3. Magnetic Specification- A requirement from key transit agencies to augment the WP4+ approach. Approved.
4. UTFS Progress Report

A letter summarizing the Rail CEO Steering Committee meeting will be distributed to the Rail CEO Steering Committee membership. A copy will be forwarded to task force members as well.

A decision on where to house the agreed upon new work within the Task Force will be made after input is gathered from the TF leaders. The subject will be discussed on the next leadership call.

Tom reported:

The presentation to the Rail CEO Steering Committee consisted of four elements:

1. Program Budget- APTA has established a Standards Development Oversight Committee (SDOC) to oversee all standards work within APTA. Tom proposed to finish the UTFS work under this committee and also requested $350k to complete all deliverables. Martin stated that the SDOC will be meeting, but will not discuss budget. Martin will work with Tom Peacock to ensure funding will be available.

2. WP4+- Tom stated that until the committee can agree on WP4+ the IP policy cannot move forward. The WP4+ approach was approved. This work is included in the budget request.

3. Magnetic Specification- In addition to the WP4+, there was strong support of some transit agencies to develop a magnetic specification document as well. Tom also tied this work to the agreement on the WP4+ and so the IP policy. This work was also approved and is included in the budget request.

4. UTFS Progress Report

Tom stated that with the approvals given by the Rail CEOs the IP policy can be adopted and implemented.

Leisa M. asked:

1. How are the decisions made by the Rail CEOs to be communicated to the task force members?

Answer: Martin replied that a letter summarizing the meeting will be distributed to the entire Rail CEO Steering Committee membership. A copy will also be sent to the TF members.

2. Where will the agreed upon new work be housed within the Task Force?

Answer: Tom replied that there must be input from the Task Force leaders to determine this. No decision has been made at this time.

The SCA Transportation Council steering committee met Feb 10-11 in Salt lake City

Attendees were: APTA, Volpe, ERG, IBM, Northrup-Grumman, MasterCard, Booz Allen, and Infineon

Initial projects will be:

1. Policies, procedures, and a trust model for multi-party closed payment systems. This can have bearing on WP4 activities.
2. Investigate and define links with the financial community
3. Collaborate with APTA on the definition of WP4+
4. Define guidelines to expand standards to include parking, tolling, and taxis

The WP4+ project has the most bearing on UTFS and will help UTFS boost the participation in UTFS of smart card experts from non-transit organizations

The next transportation Council meeting is Mar 8 in Washington, DC.

ACTION ITEM: Tim and Martin will send the SCA scope document to the TF leaders next week.

A discussion Topic for the next TF leadership call will be coordination of UTFS and TCIP.

Greg reported:

The Smart Card Alliance Transportation Council steering committee meeting was held Feb 10-11 in Salt lake City. The mission of the SCA is to accelerate adoption and usage of smart cards in North America. Their membership is growing and they are establishing councils to develop projects for specific markets and applications. A Transportation Council is being launched. APTA, Volpe, ERG, IBM, Northrup-Grumman, MasterCard, Booz Allen, and Infineon attended the steering committee meeting in SLC.

Discussions included APTA UTFS, the BAH UTFS deliverable from WP4, the US government’s Federated Identity Cross-Credentialing System (FiXs)/Defense Cross-Credentialing Identification System (DCIS) program, trust models, the trusted traveler program, and MasterCard’s PayPass.

A brainstorming session yielded 4 projects:

1. Policies, procedures, and a trust model for multi-party closed payment systems. This can have bearing on WP4 activities.
2. Investigate and define links with the financial community
3. Collaborate with APTA on the definition of WP4+
4. Define guidelines to expand standards to include parking, tolling, and taxis

Martin added that most useful to UTFS will be the project to define the technical scope of WP4+. It will be a win-win for both organizations (UTFS and SCA) and could boost the participation in UTFS of smart card experts from non-transit organizations.

Martin added that he and Tim W. are developing a scope document for the WP4+ Transportation Council project and will distribute to the leaders for comment next week.

Greg noted that the next transportation Council meeting is Mar 8 in Washington, DC.

Tam expressed that he welcomed the additional help, but expressed concern with the scope of the project and that the leaders must ensure it parallels WP4. Rick suggested that Tim and Martin provide the SCA with WP4 functional requirements.

An additional comment was how WP4+ will be addressed vis-à-vis WP4; in parallel or sequentially after WP4 is completed.

Finally Tam also stated that there is an issue with coordinating UTFS with TCIP. Tom suggested we speak about this on the next call.

Tim and Martin took on the action item to provide the SCA scope document to the TF leaders next week.

Sunday, Mar 20

No UTFS meetings.

10:00-12:00- Chung Chung Tam will host an open discussion time with UTFS leaders. Martin Schroeder and Tom Parker will be in attendance and Committee Chairs are encouraged to attend.

Monday, Mar 21

4:30-5:45- Chung Chung Tam will host an open discussion regarding identification of overlaps among APTA sponsored standards efforts UTFS and TCIP. Attendees will include FTA, APTA, Volpe, UTFS TF leaders, and ARinc (TCIP contractor).

Tuesday, Mar 22

No UTFS activities.

Wednesday, Mar 23

8:30-10:00- Conference Session: Standards in Transit Technology moderated by Polly O’Kunieff

12:30-4:00- WP4 working meeting either in the Marriott or at BART HQ- TBD

Thursday, Mar 24

8:00-4:30- WP1 meeting at BAH offices in San Francisco