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eMoney News

Transit cards 'are the future'
10 Jul 2009

Smart transit cards could be "the future of public transportation", it has been claimed.

Government Technology reports the use of smart transit cards for payment in Utah - where the TransitAuthority covers 1,400 square miles and six counties.

Contactless smart card terminals are positioned on rail platforms and next to every door of each bus operated by the authority.

As well as being able to automate passenger charging, the organisation uses a "tap on, tap off" system to track each individual's journey.

Manager of technology programme development for Utah Transit Authority Craig Roberts says: "We will be able to have planning data that shows us complete trips people are making."

He also tells Government Technology: "It allows them to board more quickly; it allows us to collect a lot of information."

Utah Transit Authority piloted the contactless smart cards during the 2008-09 holiday season, with the ski bus the first to accept them as payment.

Similarly, citizens of Bolton will soon be able to use their Council-issued smart cards for transit payments on Arriva buses as well as eMoney for retail.