UTA incorporating smart-tech for fares

Commuters using Utah Transit Authority's bus, TRAX or FrontRunner commuter rail, will have a new, high-tech payment option starting later this year.

"Contactless" payment cards will allow UTA customers to simply pass a card "near" a reader to secure a fare on buses and trains.

Craig Roberts, UTA's program manager for electronic payment, said the new technology has been tested for the last two years on UTA ski buses, and the agency is ready to implement the method system-wide by the end of this year.

"We tested it on buses to four Cottonwood ski resorts during the '06-'07 and '07-'08 ski seasons and it's been very successful," Roberts said.

One of the advantages of the new system is the ability to integrate "smart" technology into how riders receive discounts on fares.

For example, a rider can set up an account with UTA where they can utilize the "single-ride" fare system, but in the event they accumulate enough single-rides to achieve a discount on a monthly-fare, the system will automatically make the adjustment to the monthly fare, saving the rider any additional cost.

Roberts said the system is designed to be compatible with new contactless debit and credit cards — which are becoming increasing popular with consumers.

Many new corporate identity cards utilize the same technology-communication via micro-radio signal — and could also be integrated into the UTA payment system.

Roberts also predicted the availability of "pre-paid" UTA cards at the many retailers that have gift-card kiosks and the possibility of a co-branded bank card, such as a UTA Visa or Mastercard.

"UTA will be the first agency in the country to put in a full system accepting contactless payment cards," Roberts said.

Commuters can expect to see the "readers" installed on TRAX and FrontRunner platforms and on buses in the usual fare payment locations.

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E-mail: araymond@desnews.com