In a record-setting 15 months from contract award to system completion, Cubic Transportation Systems Inc., a subsidiary of San Diego-based Cubic Corp., and Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) launched the agency's new EASY Card automated fare collection system, which is now operational across MDT's 22 Metrorail stations and in nearly 900 buses.

MDT awarded a contract to Cubic in June 2008 to replace its aging fare collection system of more than 25 years. Within seven months, the smart card bus fare collection equipment was operating on MDT's bus fleet, and the central computer, rail fare collection and parking management systems followed this summer. Cubic also integrated an automatic passenger counting system on the Metromover.

The EASY Card automated fare collection system is based on Cubic's proven fare collection technology that gives public transit operators improved reliability, revenue recovery over fare evasion and better use of operational resources.

Tying it all together and providing the system's backbone is Cubic's Nextfare Central System, the powerful backend administrative and revenue management system that Cubic has fielded in 10 systems around the world.

EASY Card lets Miami transit riders ease their way from parking to rail to bus services across the city, all with a single smart card. The card can be used to pay all transit fares, including transfers between bus and rail.

Visitors can also take advantage of the EASY Ticket, a recyclable paper smart card with an embedded contactless chip like the regular plastic EASY Card.