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| Subject: Re: Cubic/Metro launches test of new fareboxes in 80 BusesNov12 | |
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Author: anonymous |
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Date Posted: 23:44:42 11/19/02 Tue In reply to: anonymous 's message, "Re: CubicACI/JCB Julie Krueger U.S.Hawaii November 19th 2002--Pork." on 08:16:18 11/19/02 Tue http://www.wmata.com/about/MET_NEWS/200211/pr_newboxes.cfm ----------------------------------------------------------- For immediate release:November 12, 2002 ----------------------------------------------------------- Metro launches test of new fareboxes in 80 Buses ----------------------------------------------------------- New fareboxes accept SmarTrip cards ----------------------------------------------------------- Metrobus officials today began testing new high-tech fareboxes that accept SmarTrip cards, marking the first step toward extending the use of smart card technology on transit services throughout the region. ----------------------------------------------------------- Metro installed these new fareboxes in all 80 Metrobuses that operate from the Arlington bus garage as part of a 90-day in-service qualification field test; 18,000 customers in Arlington, Fairfax, and Alexandria use these buses each day. Based on feedback during the test period, Metro engineers will make adjustments before expanding the use of these fareboxes to all 1,500 Metrobuses, where they will be available to all 500,000 daily Metrobus customers in spring 2003. ------------------------------------------------------------ The SmarTrip card-accepting fareboxes will then be installed on 16 other transit systems in Maryland and Virginia including: RideOn, The Bus, Annapolis Transit, Baltimore MTA and MARC Corridor Transit Corporation, Frederick Transit, Harford County Transportation Services, Howard County Transit, ART, CUE, DASH, Fairfax Connector, Loudoun County Transit, PRTC/OmniRide, and VRE. ------------------------------------------------------------ "At that point, customers will enter a new era of convenience marked by seamless, effortless travel among these transit systems without having to worry about cash or fumbling with coins," said Metro Board Chairman Christopher Zimmerman. ------------------------------------------------------------ Bus customers can still pay for their fares with cash–except pennies– passes, tokens, or tickets, "But for those with a SmarTrip card, it's a simple matter of touch and go," Mr. Zimmerman explained. ------------------------------------------------------------ The fareboxes are heavy-duty metal boxes similar to the ones that have been sitting at the entrance to buses for years. The main difference is that these new fareboxes allow customers to touch their card to pay their bus fare, making it as easy to use as afaregate at a Metrorail station. Customers touch the card to the SmarTrip target and the farebox deducts the correct fare amount. ------------------------------------------------------------ Additionally, customers are able to add value using cash to their SmarTrip cards on the bus by touching the "Add Value" button on top of the farebox and then inserting the desired amount of money. Paper cash is inserted in a bill validator as on Metrorail ticket vending machines and coins are deposited in the opening directly beneath the bill validator. As part of the test, pennies will not be accepted. This is part of an overall effort by Metro to reduce the cost of handling coins on the system. Pennies are not accepted by Metrorail ticket machines or by most other vending machines. If a customer inadvertently puts pennies in the farebox, they will be returned. ------------------------------------------------------------ The SmarTrip card also will allow customers who ride on the test buses to transfer from rail-to-bus and bus-to-bus without the use of a transfer slip, although during this 90-day test period, customers are asked to use the transfer slip as a back-up. ------------------------------------------------------------ "Customers should use $1, $5, $10 or $20 bills when adding value to their SmarTrip cards at the farebox," said Leona Agouridis, Metro's Assistant General Manager of Communications, "as that will speed the process." She also noted that the 10 percent bonus on transactions in excess of $20, provided at Metrorail ticket machines, will not be available on the Metrobuses during the test period. The bus fareboxes also do not accept credit or debit cards. Ms. Agouridis also advised that customers should have cash to pay their bus fares during the 90-day test period should the new farebox not be on a particular bus, and should get a paper transfer to ensure not having to pay a fare on a connecting bus that might not be equipped with the new farebox. ----------------------------------------------------------- Complete instructions for using the new farebox are provided on the farebox as well as in a brochure and on interior, overhead signs on all of the test buses. This information also is available in Spanish, Vietnamese, and other languages by calling 202-637-7000. Customers can get information about or report a problem with the SmarTrip card by calling 202-962-5719 weekdays from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. ------------------------------------------------------------ SmarTrip is Metro's permanent rechargeable farecard that customers can load with value and use repeatedly, reloading with more value as needed. Smart card technology came to Metro in May 1999, and now more than 280,000 customers use a SmarTrip card on Metrorail, to pay for parking at Metro-operated parking lots. ------------------------------------------------------------ "The performance of the SmarTrip farebox will be continuously evaluated during the test period," Ms. Agouridis said. "When the testing is completed and we iron out any kinks, we will install the new fareboxes on the full Metrobus fleet. Our target is fleetwide installation starting in the spring of 2003." ------------------------------------------------------------ Buses that operate out of the Arlington garage were selected for the field test because it is Metro's smallest bus garage and the buses run the same routes every day. Metrobuses operating from the Arlington garage on these routes include: Route 1-B, C, D, E, F, and Z; 2-A, B, C, G, T, and W; 3-A, B, E, and T; 4-A, B, E, H, and S; 7-A; 12-C, D, E, F, L, M, R, and S; 15-K and L; 16-B, C, and E; 20-F, W, X, and Y; 22-A, B, C, and F; 24-M, P, and T; 25-A, B, F, G, J, and P; and 28-T. ------------------------------------------------------------ The new fareboxes are part of a series of investments in Metrobus this year. Other investments made in 2002 include the purchase of equipment for cameras to videotape activity on 100 Metrobuses as part of a pilot project; the delivery of 164 CNG buses and an agreement to purchase 250 more CNGs; the purchase of an automated vehicle locator system for Metrobuses; the purchase and delivery of several new articulated Metrobuses; the purchase and installation of devices to decrease the levels of exhaust emissions; and the delivery and implementation of a comprehensive regional bus study. ------------------------------------------------------------ [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] |
| Subject | Author | Date |
| Re:JCB member of Global Platform along with Proton | anonymous | 00:12:31 11/20/02 Wed |
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