Smart Cards and U.S. Public Transportation
Number 6 - Revised June 2006
Contactless smart cards, credit card-sized
plastic cards with an embedded antenna and computer chip, are beginning to gain traction
at U.S. public transit agencies. The contactless electronic link between card and reader
equipment allows for a very fast interface that is needed by mass transit. Using smart
cards to replace traditional transit tickets or tokens holds the promise of reducing cash
handling, equipment maintenance, and security costs; increasing convenience for riders;
improving collection of ridership data; lending a more modern image to transit; and
providing new opportunities for innovative fare structures and marketing.
Overview
Smart Card Primer. Charles Cagliostro, 1999.
The Smart Card Alliance, an industry association of over 185 firms, provides a web site
with several introductory documents on smart card technology, plus industry news, a
product catalog, member list, etc.
Source: Smart Card Alliance web site: http://www.smartcardalliance.org/industry_info/smart_cards_primer.cfm
Smart Card Technology Just Got Smarter. Amy Carter, November/December
2001.
A good introduction to some of the key issues in implementing smart card technology
in transit.
Source: Metro Magazine: http://www.metro-magazine.com/t_featpick.cfm?id=90503020
Fare Policies, Structures and Technologies: Update. Multisystems,
Inc. 2003.
Chapter 3 of this recent TCRP Report presents benefits to customers and agencies
of the smart card technology, and examines issues such as costs, standards,
interoperability, and multiapplication programs.
Source: TCRP Report 94, Transportation Research Board,National
Research Council.
Location: http://gulliver.trb.org/publications/tcrp/tcrp_rpt_94.pdf
Smart Cards Deployed in
Current Transit Operations
Washington Metropolitan Transportation Authority - SmarTrip
WMATA was the first public transportation system in the U.S. to adopt smart
cards, launching a pilot program in 1999. By the end of 2004, over 800,000
of the permanent, rechargeable plastic smart cards, which hold up to $200.00
in fare value, had been sold. One third of WMATA Metrorail riders use SmarTrip
cards regularly. SmarTrip has been expanded to Metro parking lots and to bus
transit, and will eventually cover other regional rail service over a total
of 17 transit systems.
WMATA Web site: http://www.wmata.com/riding/smartrip.cfm
Sources: APTA 2001 Rail Transit Conference Proceedings paper by C.
Maxey & P. Benjamin. Click
here for .pdf file.
APTA 2003 TransITech Conference presentation "Regional SmarTrip System"
Click
here for .pdf file.
Chicago Transit Authority - Chicago Card Plus
As of March, 2004 there are more than 67,000 Chicago Cards in use. The
system is interoperable across the CTA's rail turnstiles and bus fare boxes
as well as the PACE suburban bus system, making it the nation's first muti-agency,
multi-modal smart card system for public transit. Special features of the
Chicago Card include automatic reloading when the stored value drops below
$10.00, and passback privileges allow up to seven customers to board the same
bus or pass through the same rail station turnstile using one card.
CTA Web Site:
http://www.transitchicago.com/store/faremedia/ccard/
Ventura County Transportation Commission - Go
Ventura
Ventura County, CA has installed a smart card system
on 100 buses, involving a half-dozen public transit operators in the county. The cards,
which will also be used for free bus rides by California State University students, will
eventually be available on the area's commuter rail system. A report of the three year
smart card demonstration program that preceded Ventura's current revenue service smart
card system is referenced below.
VCTC Web Site: http://www.goventura.org/home/index.asp
Source: Federal Highway Administration, Ventura County Fare
Integration: A Case Study, September 2001.
Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority - Breeze
Breeze is a system of electronic cards that will replace the token-or-coin
system MARTA uses at present. The cards will operate new, 6-foot-tall jumper-proof
gates. Installation of the Breeze system began in December, 2005 and will
continue throughout 2006. The new system will allow commuters to use one card
to pay for rail, bus, L-van (paratransit) fares and park-and-ride fees. A
limited-use and extended-use card will both be employeed once the system is
fully operational.
Website: http://www.breezecard.com
Examples of Transit Smart Card
Applications in Development
Bay Area Translink
ERG Transit, an Australian corportation, will be installing the TransLink
card system in each of 21 Bay Area transit systems through a contract with
the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. The TransLink card is scheduled
to be made available to Golden Gate Ferry and Golden Gate Transit bus users
in October 2004, with AC Transit riders following soon afterward.
Website: http://www.translink.org/jsp/index.jsp
Source: A
Universal Fare Card for the Bay Area, Emily Patterson, in Mass Transit, May, 2002.
Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority
LYNX (Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority), along with the Orlando-Orange
County Expressway Authority, and the City of Orlando Parking Authority, conducted
an FTA-sponsored test in 2004 of a multi-agency application of smart card
technology. This initiative, called ORANGES, allowed for electronic payment
of bus fares on selected LYNX routes, as well as parking fees at city lots
and expressway tolls.
Website: http://www.golynx.com/?pid=1155675
Central Puget Sound Regional Fare Coordination Project
Seven transportation agencies led by King County Metro Transit are in the
process of implementing a regional fare collection program targeted to be
operational in 2006. The smart card technology (provided by ERG Transit Systems)
will ultimately allow linked trips between bus transit, ferries and rail.
Any agency in Washington, Idaho or Oregon can join the project.
Website: http://transit.metrokc.gov/prog/smartcard/smartcard.html
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
In March 2002, LACMTA awarded a contract to link all public transit in Los
Angeles with one smart card-based system. By Summer 2005, the Universal Fare
System will offer a single payment system to the participating agencies in
the region, which will allow commuters to pay for subway, light rail, bus,
and bus rapid transit services with one smart card.
Source: http://www.cubic.com/corp1/news/pr/2004/Cubic_LA_DOT_contract_final_2-4.html
(Cubic release)
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority- Charlie Card
MBTA introduced a paper "Charlie Ticket" in May, 2005, replacing
metal tokens. The paper ticket is scheduled to be replaced by the smart "Charlie
Card" in 2006. Passengers will be able to add value to the card at machines
located in transit stations. Charlie Cards will also be useable on MBTA buses.
Website: http://www.mbta.com/projects_underway/easyway.asp
Minneapolis/St. Paul Metro Transit
The $17 million project will provide an integrated smart card-based fare
collection system on Metro Transit buses and the new Hiawatha Light Rail line,
as well as buses operated by other regional transit providers. The "Go-To
Card" system will exist alongside the current farebox system in buses.
LRT riders will purchase tickets at the platform or have valid Go-To Cards
to board trains. The Go-To Cards are being tested by several hundred volunteers,
with the program scheduled to be open to the general public in first quarter
2006.
Source: Metro Transit Web Site http://www.metrocouncil.org/directions/transit/smartcards.htm
Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation SmartLink
In test mode at present, this integrated regional transit fare payment system
will accept PATH's new SmartLink smart card, along with MTA NYCT MetroCards,
and PATH's current fare ticket, the Quick-Card. With full installation, customers
will be able to purchase the SmartLink card online, check card balances online,
register their cards against loss, and arrange for auto-loading of value.
Source: Passenger Transport June 6, 2005 Read
Article
Corporations
ASK S.A.
This French firm produces contactless smart cards for a number of European cities. Its
C.ticket product provides dual cards (contact and contactless interfaces on the same card)
complying with ISO 14443 standard. ASK recently began a pilot program in Toronto with an
initial order of 12,000 cards.
Web Site: http://www.ask.fr/
Axalto
Axalto, a SchlumbergerSema company, is providing smart card technology
for the London Underground and bus system, for the French railway SNCF, and
for the Norwegian public transit network.
Web Site: http://www.axalto.com/transport/index.asp
Cubic Transportation Systems
Cubic's smart card technology was employed in
Washington DC's SmarTrip, the first contactless smart card to be used system-wide in a US
city. Under a subsequent contract, Cubic will extend SmartTrip across all WMATA buses as
well as the heavy rail system. Cubic has also signed contracts for the introduction of
smart cards in the San Diego area and in Chicago and Los Angeles.
Web Site: http://www.cubic.com/cts/index.html
ERG Group
ERG Transit Systems developed the world's largest integrated contactless smart
card fare collection system in Hong Kong, known as Octopus. More than 6.6
million cards are in active use in Hong Kong. Recently, ERG assumed responsibility
for the implementation of the TransLink fare payment system in the San Francisco
Bay Area.
Web Site: http://www.erggroup.com
Scheidt & Bachmann
Scheidt & Bachmann is the provider of the Charlie SMART card system at the
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. In December, 2005 the City of Phoenix and Scheidt & Bachmann USA, Inc. signed a $12.5 million dollar 5-year agreement to provide the City of Phoenix, the Regional Public Transportation Authority (RPTA) and the City of Tempe with a new fare collection system utilizing Scheidt & Bachmann's VAREpoint © fareboxes and smart card technology.
Web Site: http://www.scheidt-bachmann.com
News Updates
Electronic Payment
ITS America's web site includes a section on current news relating to electronic payment
technology. While broader than just transit, it is a good resource for keeping current on
applications to transit, and developments in the field of electronic payment technology.
Source: ITS America web site: http://www.itsa.org/payment.html
Transportation Communications Newsletter
A free electronic newsletter that covers all aspects
of communications technology innovation in transportation including smart card technology.
Source: To subscribe, send an e-mail message to: transport-communications-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
APTA Information Center
info@apta.com
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