MARTA awards Cubic $72.5M smart card contract

Cubic Transportation Systems Inc. was awarded a $72.5 million contract from the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) to deliver a smart card-only multi-modal fare collection and revenue management system. Under the contract, which could be worth as much as $104 million if options are exercised, Cubic will replace MARTA's existing magnetic ticketing and token-based system with the company's open architecture smart card ticketing technology that will allow commuters to use one card to pay for rail, bus, paratransit and park-and-ride fees. The new system will increase revenues and operational efficiency for the agency. Beginning in 2006 when the system launches, patrons will be able to use a customer service Web site to order and register cards, make account queries and add value to their cards with online software features. Added value can then be collected automatically the next time customers use their cards in the system at rail stations, on buses and when parking.