METRO Q Card Roll Out Recap - April 2008

Communications & Marketing

PHASE I - January 1, 2008End of Stored Value Cards

• On January 1, 2008 the announcement was made….

“THE Q CARD ROLL OUT WILL BEGIN!”

• Stored Value Cards were no longer available to the public

• The Q CARD was made available to the public.

• January 31st last day to purchase DAY PASSES

• Tokens were no longer offered to the social agencies

• METRO placed Q CARD ads in the Houston Chronicle and community papers

PHASE I - January 1, 2008End of Stored Value Cards

On January 1, 2008 the announcement was made…..

This Banner was placed on the side of the building January 3, 2008

PHASE I - January 1, 2008End of Stored Value Cards

This bus card was placed system wide on all METRO buses

beginning January 2, 2008

Sticker placedon all METRObus fareboxes January 15th

PHASE I - January 1,2008End of Stored Value Cards

Bus Cards placed system wide on all METRO busesBeginning January 2, 2008

PHASE I - January 1,2008End of Stored Value Cards

METRO’s Fare System History

•This bus cards was placed system wide on all METRO busesbeginning January 2, 2008.

•In December 2008 this ad was placed in the Houston Chronicle.

PHASE I - January 1, 2008End of Stored Value Cards

Brochure explains the new fare policy and the elimination all Stored Value Cards

Brochure “The Q is Here” was distributed system wide on buses and railfor the three month transition period January through March.The Ask Me Team handed these out at transit centers, rail platforms, and Park & Rides

PHASE I - January 1,2008End of Stored Value Cards

This ad appeared during the last week of January in the Houston Chronicle and community papers.

PHASE I - January 1,2008End of Stored Value Cards

This letter was sent to RideSponsors in late January .

PHASE I - January 1, 2008End of Stored Value Cards

This poster was placed in downtown kiosks beginning of January 2008.

Phase II - February 1, 2008Q CARD Continue to be distributed

2/29/08 Transfers Only Available with Q CARD

1. February 29th was the last day Stored Value Cards users would receive free transfers

2. Only with Q CARD will riders receive free transfers

3. METRO Money was distributed to social agencies

4. METRO placed ads in the Houston Chronicle and community papers

Phase II - February 1, 2008Q CARD Continue to be distributed

Transfers Only Available with Q CARD

Bus Card was placed on all buses January 15th

Stored Value Cards were not eligible for Free transfers after February 29th

Free transfers only with a Q CARD Only with A Q CARD

Phase II - February 1, 2008Q CARD Continue to be distributed

Transfers Only Available with Q CARD

This bus card was placed on buses to notify riders that free transfers would only be valid with a Q Card.

Sticker placedon all METRObus fareboxes February 15th

Phase II - February 1, 2008Q CARD Continue to be distributed

Transfers Only Available with Q CARD

Flier was placed on all buses and rail during the month of

February.

Phase II - February 1, 2008Q CARD Continue to be distributed

Transfers Only Available with Q CARD

This ad appeared the last week of February in the Houston Chronicle

and community papers.

Phase II - February 1, 2008Q CARD Continue to be distributed

Transfers Only Available with Q CARD

• METRO TOKEN REPLACEMENT PROGRAM• For Non-Profit Agencies

• To whom it may concern:• We want to take this opportunity to thank you for your services and to inform you that. METRO is

introducing a new way to pay fares on our system – the Q Card smart card system. With the new system, we will be replacing tokens with METRO Money for eligible agencies.

• Important dates to remember:• December 31, 2007 Last day METRO will issue tokens.• February 1, 2008 Day passes will no longer be

available. • March 1, 2008 Tokens will only be valid for one ride in one• direction. Transfers will be issued only with • METRO Money or a Q Card.

• March 31, 2008 Bus drivers will only accept cash, METRO Money • or Q Cards for fares. Tokens will no longer be accepted.

• Our goal is that by March 31, 2008 all eligible agencies will have received METRO Money. • You can purchase METRO Money in increments of $5, $10, $20. Purchases of 200 or more units

will receive a 13% discount. In addition, a special $2 METRO Money is being offered to social service agencies although no discount is offered for this denomination.

• Orders must be placed one business day in advance and will be available for pick up the following business day after 9 a.m. You can place your order by calling the METRO RideStore (713-652-8990) or visiting our location at 1001 Travis (Travis at McKinney).

• Thank you again for all your support and cooperation through this transition. • Sincerely,• The METRO Q Card Team

This letter was sent to Social Agencies In December 2007

• March 31st last day to transfer funds to Q CARD

• April 1st Only two ways to pay…

CASH OR Q CARD

• METRO’s Ad appeared in the Houston Chronicle and community papers the last week on March

Phase III – March 31st Last Day to use STORED VALUE CARDS

Phase III – March 31st Last Day to use STORED VALUE CARDS

“Move It or Lose It” This flier was out to the public March 1st.

This flier was distributed system wide on buses, rail, through METRO RideStores, and the Ask Me Team handed them out at all transit centers, Park & Rides and on all rail platforms, during the month of March.

Phase III – March 31st Last Day to use STORED VALUE CARDS

April 1st Stored Value Cards no longer acceptedONLY two ways to pay Q CARD or Cash.

This flier was distributed system wide on buses, rail, through METRO RideStores, and the Ask Me Team handed them out at all transit centers, Park & Rides and on all rail platforms, during the month of March.

Sticker placedon all METRObus fareboxes March15th

Phase III – March 31st Last Day to use STORED VALUE CARDS

How Metro Fares in 2008

REMINDER!or transfer the balance to the Q Card. METRO will transfer value remaining on unexpired passes and stored value cards to your Q Card through March 31, 2008. To do this visit METRO's RideStores at 1900 Main St. or 1001 Travis. Last day of old fare structure - March 31, 2008.

METRO’s Web Site

Phase III – March 31st Last Day to use STORED VALUE CARDS

March 31st last day to transfer fund to Q CARD

This ad appeared the last week of March in the Houston Chronicle

and community papers.

Phase III – March 31st Last Day to use STORED VALUE CARDS

This letter went out to all RideSponsor in early March.

Phase III – March 31st Last Day to use STORED VALUE CARDS

This envelope was distributed through METRO RideStores, the Ask Me Team handed them out at all transit centers. METRO sales team handed these to RideSponsors during the month of March.