MARTA moves to smart cards

The Metropolitan Atlanta Regional Transportation Authority (MARTA) has announced that it is implementing a smart-card system that officials say will eventually lead to a regionalized fare collection network.

The Breeze system, which uses electronic fare cards to replace tokens and coins, will begin to show up at MARTA stations in 2005 and be completely installed by 2006.

Officials have said the $180 million Breeze system will help cut down on the estimated $10 million a year MARTA loses due to fare cheats, forged transfers, scams and other fraudulent activities.

The Breeze card technology will allow for a unified fare system where customers could use just one card to pay for multiple transit agencies and toll roads in the Atlanta area.