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| NJT's New fare collection system {UPDATE} (171122) | |||
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NJT's New fare collection system {UPDATE} |
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Posted by TRANSIT JEFF on Sun Nov 1 19:50:10 2009 Here is the latest news on New Jersey Transit's new fare collection system. The existing registers and fareboxes will be rebuilt and upgraded rather than be replaced outright. Cubic has the contract for this work. The registers will have a "reader" that will allow the passenger to "tap" rather than "swipe" a credit card. Initially, the cards will be limited to Master Card only. But it is expected that all major credit cards will be accepted at some point soon. A way is being devised that will insure that the credit card companies can not have access to their competitors proprietary customer info. A firm in Upstate New York will handle this for NJT.Greenville Garage in Jersey City is the pilot or test bed for the new system. The new system is scheduled to take effect on November 30th. However, it is possible that it may not happen until January 15th, 2010. If a passenger with a Master Card, that has the necessary embedded chip, signs up for and pays for a monthly {one zone} pass, the card will act as his/her pass. When the card is "tapped" on the reader, the register would "read" that he/she has a valid one zone monthly pass account {paid for} and flash this info to the bus operator. If the person has no valid monthly pass on his/her embedded Master Card, a one zone fare will be charged to the cardholder's account and registered on the farebox. It is expected that other garages will be added at some point if everything goes as planned. Also, other modes, such as light rail {proof of payment} and rail will be included. It is yet to be determined how the multiple types of fares will be handled on those operations. I suggested that fare inspectors on PofP lines could have portable, hand-held readers to spot check passenger's cards. Also, the system will eventually be extended to include multiple zone lines. Also to be addressed is the fact that monthly rail pass holders are permitted to ride on PofP light rail lines, such as the RiverLINE. Also of note is that the transaction time is only a fraction of a second. And of note is that PATH will be joining NJT on this initial system. It is expected to later include New York's MTA and Philly's SEPTA, both of which are working on it. It will eventually be an "Easy Pass" for mass transit, good in many places. |
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