Useful links:
Transit News | Transit Press Releases | sQuid schemes - Transit

eMoney News

Nottingham city councillors to decide on smart ticketing investment
10 Mar 2010

Nottingham city councillors are to decide whether to invest £1.1 million in a contactless smart card transit payment scheme.

The city was awarded a £2.2 million grant by the Department for Transport (DfT), with half to be used in 2009/10 and half in 2010/11.

If the council's executive cap down board decides to implement the scheme when it meets on 16th March, the city's transport system could see a number of improvements.

All existing smart cards would be upgraded for increased security, while more ticket machines and smart card readers would be installed across the transport network.

Moreover, it is hoped that by 2011 local operators will be able to read national smart cards and that it will be possible to issue the cards from all Nottingham libraries and leisure centres.

Jane Urquhart, portfolio holder for transport and area working at Nottingham City Council, believes that the investment will bring greater flexibility and increased range to the project if approved.

"If the investment is agreed it will improve accessibility to the Citycard schemeby the use of mobile travel centres," she said.

"It will also help with the development of other integrated ticketing products on a smart platform, in a similar fashion to London's Oystercard," she added.

Transit systems across the UK already boast integrated smart ticketing systems but it is up to Nottingham's councillors if they wish to accept the grant and join their ranks.