Smart Cards and Transit

“State of the Markets” Executive Panel

Ann FlemerDeputy Director, Operations

Metropolitan Transportation Commission

Smart Card Alliance Fall Conference

October 18, 2004

Bay Area’s One Card System for Public Transit

Every day, 1.5 million transit riders/day

20+ different transit agencies

Focus on improving connections

Make Transit More Convenient and Accessible …

Single Fare Card Top Choice of Bay Area Public

On All Bay Area Transit Systems

From Many…From Many…

to One!to One!

Over 250 Ways to Pay Fares Today

How TransLink® Works

Load card (e.g. cash value, monthly pass)

Computer chip keeps track of card value

Card reader automatically deducts fare

Card knows what discounts should apply, time of day, transfers

Automatic reloading

Balance protection if lost or stolen

Challenge: Meet Transit Agency Expectations

Make it worth the investment

Retain flexibility to set fares

Easy maintenance, faster boarding

Reduce cost of fare collection and fraud

Provide data for planning and marketing

TransLink® Pilot Program

6-month demonstration — 2002

AC Transit, BART, Muni, Golden Gate, Caltrain, Santa Clara VTA

Evaluate public reaction

Evaluate agency experience

Plans for Regional Deployment

Golden Gate Ferries

AC Transit and Golden Gate mid 2005

BART, Muni and Caltrain fall 2005

Santa Clara and SamTrans in 2006

Remaining systems

TransLink® replaces existing tickets/passes

Future Markets

Multi-use within transit systems

Transportation uses external to transit systems

Shared-use electronic payments beyond transportation

Multi-use within Transit Systems

Parking access and payment at transit stations

Security access for employees Paratransit Services

– Taxi Cabs– Vans

Transportation Uses External To Transit Systems

Municipal parking garages and meters

Access to transit systems with other modes

Combine employee access and transit card

Combine electronic toll and transit fare collection

Promotional discounts to popular transit destinations

Shared-use Electronic Payments

Transportation and non-transportation payments using the same card

Electronic benefits programs– Student Services– Medical Services– Food Stamps,

Other Social Services