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Date Of Media Release 19/11/2003
Title TransLink® Smart Card Fare Collection System Approved for Rollout by Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Contact Shaun Duffy
Phone +61 8 9273 1879
Fax +61 8 9273 1208
Email [email protected]
Division ERG Group

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TransLink® Smart Card Fare Collection System Approved for Rollout by Metropolitan Transportation Commission
Agency participation clears way for implementation of standardised regional fare payment system for San Francisco Bay Area commuters

ERG Transit Systems (USA) Inc, a member of the ERG Group and global leader in smart card based fare collection and management systems, today announced that six major transit agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area have now agreed to participate in a full-scale implementation of the Regional TransLink® smart card fare collection project.

The board of directors of the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit District) approved its participation, joining San Francisco MUNI (Municipal Railway), AC Transit, Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District, Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority, and Caltrain in granting approval for the regional fare collection and settlement program.

The TransLink® system is expected to be operational among these agencies within the next two years and full implementation across all Bay Area transit operators is expected soon after.

While the Bay Area’s Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) gave its approval earlier to move ahead with the project, the formal Notice to Proceed was the final and official action needed to implement the regional fare card system in the San Francisco Bay Area.

“A regional fare card is long overdue in the Bay Area and MTC is pleased to be moving ahead with this project after years of development and a very successful testing phase,” said Randy Rentschler, spokesperson for MTC.

The project is worth approximately US$150 million (A$210 million) in revenue and extends ERG’s operation and maintenance contract to a total of thirteen years after award of the five-year extension option.

TransLink® is one of the largest regional smart card based transit fare collection systems being developed in the United States. When fully operational, TransLink® will provide a single payment system encompassing transit systems operating in the San Francisco Bay Area, including buses, ferries, and light, medium and heavy rail systems. TransLink® is expected to handle more than 25 million smart card transactions every month. City travellers will only need the TransLink® smart card to pay the fare for bus, train, light rail or ferry trips from Gilroy to the Napa Valley, dramatically simplifying mass transportation in the area. ERG will process all transactions and settle payments among operators daily.

“Regional fare collection and settlement is now becoming a reality for the San Francisco Bay Area,” said Mike Nash, General Manager of ERG’s American operations. “The tremendous value and benefits of region-wide smart card based fare collection have been proven around the world in systems developed by ERG. We’re gratified that forward-thinking transit officials across North America, including those in major metro areas like San Francisco, Seattle and Washington DC, are committed to bringing those same benefits to their regions.”

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