Press Releases
Single Bay Area Transit Ticket Wins Go-Ahead From MTC
CONTACT:
Brenda Kahn
510.817.5773
Russell Driver
510/464-7808
Motorola, Inc. and ERG Limited will begin immediately to design, fabricate and install equipment and to set up transaction processing, operator support and customer services for the state-of-the-art TransLink® system.
A six-month demonstration of the new ticket will begin in fall 2000 on selected routes of AC Transit, BART, Caltrain, Golden Gate Transit, San Francisco Muni and (Santa Clara) Valley Transportation Authority.
"Thousands of riders on these routes will have a chance to participate in the TransLink® demonstration," said Lawrence Dahms, MTC Executive Director. "If it is successful, MTC and the transit operators will decide whether to proceed with full rollout of the system, which could begin regionwide by 2001."
Dahms said the value of the Motorola contract over 10 years will range from a low of $114 million to a high of $157 million, depending on usage of the card. "The greater the card use, the lower the cost per ride, but the higher the system's operating cost," he said.
Dahms noted that in a random phone survey of Bay Area registered voters, more than three fourths of the respondents ranked a universal transit ticket as tops among their desired transit improvements. "TransLink® can provide the kind of seamless access to all Bay Area transit that riders want," he said. "It will mean no more having to carry exact change, wait in line to buy tickets or keep track of complicated fare structures."
How TransLink® Works
TransLink® uses "smart card" technology. Transit riders will purchase a plastic card embedded with a computer chip that they "load" with a dollar value, stored rides or time-period passes. They then need only flash the card in front of an electronic reader device located on transit vehicles, in stations or at faregates, and the correct fare value will be deducted automatically from the card. TransLink® will factor in a host of variables when calculating fares, including different fare structures for every transit operator, transfers, routes, length of trips, time of day and discounts for students, elderly and disabled riders.
In the future, TransLink® cards may be accepted at parking lots, parking meters, taxis and public telephones, and possibly for retail purchases.
Dahms said the TransLink® system also will benefit transit agencies. "A central computer system will handle all transactions and distribute payments to transit agencies on a daily basis. Passengers will be able to board transit vehicles and pass through faregates faster with the TransLink® card. And since the system will record every transaction, the agencies will have a comprehensive data base for planning services, marketing and financial accounting.
"TransLink® also will be a major step forward in complying with state legislation, which requires Bay Area transit operators, working with MTC, to consolidate and coordinate certain functions, such as fare cards, to improve their service," Dahms said.
MTC is the transportation planning, coordinating and financing agency for the nine-county Bay Area. Motorola, Inc. is a leading provider of wireless communications semiconductors, advanced electronic systems and related services. ERG Limited, headquartered in Australia, is an experienced supplier of automated fare collection systems.
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* Washington, D.C.'s Metro Rail uses a smart card fare system; Seattle plans to launch a multi-modal smart fare card in 2001. Public transit systems in both Hong Kong and Seoul, Korea use smart-card tickets.
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