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Utah Transit Authority launches e-payment system at annual Smart Card Alliance event
February 23, 2009
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Transit Authority is showcasing its new electronic fare collection system this week in Salt Lake City at an event hosted by the Smart Card Alliance.
According to a news release, the new electronic-payment system is the first full-system rollout of a transit payment system based on the open payment network.
UTA's new EFC system accepts major contactless credit and debit cards such as Visa payWave, MasterCard PayPass and American Express expresspay for fares on more than 600 buses and a fleet of light rail and commuter rail trains.
Payment authorization is initiated when a customer taps a contactless credit or debit card to an electronic reader on a train platform or bus. Riders also tap off when exiting, to complete their trip and get an electronic transfer. The rider is then able to tap onto a new bus or train without being charged for a new trip. The final charge is processed through a back-office system that matches up individual card "taps" within the two-hour transfer window to create a complete trip and calculate the final charge. Customers may also pay for more than one rider by tapping on and tapping off multiple times, once for each rider.
The payment method also provides UTA with data about the travel patterns of its riders.
"The new EFC system is an investment in the future that will pay big dividends for our riders," said John Inglish, UTA's general manager. "The EFC system will help UTA better determine ridership patterns and be more responsive when planning service."
The system, which officially launched in January, is used daily by thousands of UTA riders.
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