[IMAGE]INIT-fare-system-PROXmobil2en-2.jpg[/IMAGE]INIT Innovations in Transportation Inc. has been awarded a contract with Sacramento (Calif.) Area Council of Governments (SACOG) for the installation of a multi-agency electronic fare collection solution on approximately 500 of the agencies’ buses and at more than 80 locations on rail station platforms.

Although INIT has installed successful fare collection projects around the world, the contract with SACOG marks a major milestone as it is the first of its kind in the North American market, company officials said. The state-of-the-art electronic fare collection system from INIT is part of Sacramento’s mission to offer an efficient area-wide transportation system within the region.

The contract calls for the implementation of smartcard passenger terminals (PROXmobil), Add Fare Machines (AFM), GPS-enabled onboard computers, customer service workstations, retail sales terminals (EVENDpc), and a sophisticated back-office fare management system (MOBILEvario) for the Council’s new Connect Transit Card System.

The installation of INIT’s electronic fare collection technology will give SACOG the ability to increase efficiency and on-time performance by reducing boarding times at stops and decreasing driver workloads. Using INIT’s PROXmobil smartcard reader, passengers will tap their fare cards when boarding buses or at platforms before boarding trains which will automatically debit the exact fare for that ride.

The agency has opted for INIT’s EVENDpc as a retail sales terminal, which provides SACOG riders the ability to easily purchase or top up smartcards at 42 retail locations throughout the region. Additionally, INIT will supply and install Add Fare Machines at 28 rail platforms.

The process of managing all relevant fare details, including revenue share between agencies, will be handled through INIT’s back-office system, MOBILEvario. This software system allows SACOG to handle all fare collection and clearing processes with ease and efficiency while streamlining work processes and enhancing services for the Sacramento Council and their passengers, the company said.