Calgary pilots smart card payments for public transit
04 May, 2012
category: Contactless, Education, Smart Cards, Transit
Calgary, Alberta is pushing forward with the anticipated summer launch of a new smart card payment system for public transit, according to the Calgary Herald.
Calgary Transit began testing this week it’s newly dubbed “Connect” electronic fare payment platform, which allows transit users to tap smart cards in lieu of cash, tickets or passes. Connect cards were given to 100 city staff and 400 students at the University of Calgary.
“The purpose of the pilot is to aggressively test the system and devices before we launch to the general public,” said Calgary Transit spokesman Ron Collins. The department hasn’t set a precise date when the new system will go public.
The Calgary Transit smart card system has a price tag of roughly $7 million, which is being shared by the municipal, provincial and federal governments.
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