Cubic to equip Los Angeles BRT with smart card ticketing

Cubic Transportation Systems Inc. will deliver California's first off-vehicle smart card ticketing application for bus rapid transit (BRT) to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Equipment delivered under the new $7.45 million contract will allow passengers to pay their fares on the station platforms before the buses arrive instead of onboard. The new contract adds to the $84 million contract the MTA awarded to Cubic in 2002 for delivery of a smart card ticketing system that will link bus, light rail, subway rides and other public transit in Los Angeles County to one farecard. Cubic will deliver the additional ticket vending machines and smart card validators for 13 stations that will be built for the San Fernando Valley (Calif.) Metro Rapidway Project, which will operate on an exclusive busway when it opens in 2005. The Los Angeles County MTA operates 160 Metro Rapid buses along four lines totaling 65 miles.