Thousand Palms, Calif.-based SunLine Transit Agency deployed new smart card technology: Seniors 60 years and older and persons with disabilities can now use a debit card to pay for their half-price taxi rides instead of the paper coupon that was the original form of payment when the Taxi Voucher Program began in November of last year.

Under the New Freedom Taxi Voucher Program, the Federal New Freedom Grant funds the Taxi Voucher Program, which recently received approval for a two-year extension. The Taxi Voucher Smart Card will replace current paper coupon books.

Clients that have paper coupon books will be able to turn them in and the remaining value will be credited to their Smart Card. Every 30 days the Smart Card can be re-loaded for up to $150 in taxi vouchers at a cost of only $75, which is a savings of 50% for those who qualify.

The card will be imprinted for use only within the Coachella Valley and is an accepted means of payment by all three Coachella Valley taxi franchises.