Some riders derailed by new fare system

Tap on. Tap off. Simple — yet confusion surrounds the Utah Transit Authority's new electronic fare system for passengers.

"I don't even know what that is," said Peter Widnt, a resident of Midvale, when the Deseret News asked him about the payment towers on TRAX platforms.

Widnt and his wife, Carolyn, use TRAX to get between the parking area and the Huntsman Center at the University of Utah for gymnastic events. But the couple were unsure how they'd get downtown with the new fare system, which officially began this month.

"It was good of UTA to bring the technology, but I don't think most people's cards are up to date, so what does it matter?" Carolyn Widnt said.

Carrie Bohnsack-Ware, senior spokeswoman for the transit service, said that UTA will be lenient with enforcement throughout January as riders begin adjusting to the new system. When school begins for U. students on Monday, Bohnsack-Ware said UTA would have volunteers available at TRAX stations to help educate riders on the new payment protocol.

"School isn't in yet, and the workweek has been slower during the holidays, so we don't know what things will be like yet," Bohnsack-Ware said. "We haven't had any major glitches, and things have run smoothly so far."

Electronic fare-collecting stations are located on all bus doors and train platform entrances and provide users with three responses. A green light means your card is valid. A yellow light means the card needs additional service or may need to be upgraded for a specific service. And a red light means the card is already in use or is inactive.

All other fare types, such as monthly passes and cash fare, will continue to be accepted as UTA begins its transition to the electronic system over the next two years, Bohnsack-Ware said.

On Friday between 3 and 7 p.m., the majority of people the Deseret News observed at TRAX stations across the valley passed by the electronic fare collectors. That could spell trouble down the road for holders of education passes and eco passes.

According to UTA's Web site, if passengers paying with electronic fare passes fail to tap on or tap off more than three consecutive times, their card will be deactivated. For students, education cards can be reactivated at the student services office at the U. Eco pass holders will need to contact their place of employment, and those paying with contactless credit cars will need to speak with the company that issued their card.