Riders respond to a fare deal - innovations in light and commuter rail collection technology

Railway Age, May, 1998 by William D. Middleton

Close behind the Bay Area is Seattle, where a consortium of seven transit agencies led by King County Metro is initiating procurement of a smart card-based regional system. A six-month demonstration, concluded in March 1997, utilizing AES Prodata (North America) equipment was "very successful," according to Candace Carlson, project manager. Transit riders and bus drivers both liked the system, Carlson says, and customers particularly liked the contactless cards, which could be used without removing them from a handbag or wallet.

For Seattle's new regional system, the transit agencies prefer a "combi" smart card: contactless for transit use, a contact card for other uses. An RFP is expected to be ready for industry review by September, and should be issued in final form by year-end. Initial application should be on the express bus and commuter rail services being developed by the region's new Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, with the system up and running on all seven systems by 2000.

Some transit agencies that have stayed with magnetic fare-card AFC systems are also planning for a later transition to smart cards. Chicago's new Transit Card system, for example, was designed to also accept a contactless smart card, and CTA is beginning a pilot test this year. MBTA's planned AFC system will probably include a capability for a closed demonstration of smart card technology.

THE BARRIER-FREE/PROOF-OF-PAYMENT ALTERNATIVE

Another fare collection alternative is the barrier-free, proof-of-payment system, the method of choice for most new North American rail starts since 1980. These systems typically employ automated TVMs and validators on station platforms. The system depends upon regular checks by roving ticket inspectors and stiff fines to assure a high level of compliance. Typically, operators have found that barrier-free systems experience a lower level of fare evasion than with traditional fare collection systems, provided there is an adequate inspection program. For example, the Los Angeles County MTA, which employs a barrier-free system on its Blue, Green, Red lines, attempts to maintain a 25% inspection level. In a typical month the police and sheriffs deputies that conduct inspections find a fare evasion rate of only 0.33%.

Until recently, barrier-free fare collection has been limited to new-starts, but the concept is now being adopted on older systems. In January, San Francisco's Muni began operating its new E Embarcadero Muni Metro light rail extension with a proof-of-payment system equipped with Scheidt & Bachmann TVMs. San Francisco police officers perform random inspections. Muni plans to eventually convert its entire five-line rail system to barrier-free.