Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

The company wanted to test its open payment account-based products and determine if people would use the same media as both their fare card and their retail spend card, and both objectives were successfully achieved.

Now, riders will be able to use American Express contactless payment cards, as well as cards from other major payment networks, to make secure transit payments at PATCO.

In 2011, the two entities partnered to create the first transit-agency branded, all contactless Visa prepaid card in the world. This was among one of the first times that consumers had been able to use the same transit payment card for both transit and retail purchases.

The new PATCO Wave & Pay ANYWHERE Visa Prepaid Card began a 12-month pilot program on Monday. This marks the first time that consumers will be able to use the same transit payment card for both transit and retail purchases.

Work on the five-year project is scheduled to begin in February 2011. This contract is the largest capital improvement project in the history of the Delaware River Port Authority, the regional transportation agency that owns and operates PATCO.

Technology will be integrated across PATCO’s 14-mile line, and will allow riders to pay fares with a debit or credit card. For the first half of the year-long pilot, Cubic’s banking partner will issue a branded reloadable prepaid card with a contactless interface. During the second half, riders can pay with any bank card containing a contactless chip.

After an attempt by the Delaware River Port Authority to sell its commuter train line failed last month, the agency considered selling the line to a private buyer. Officials say that with $45.3 million in operating costs and only $24.8 million in revenue projected for 2011, the outlook is not promising.