Cubic Awarded $72.5 Million Contract to Deliver Atlanta’s New Smart Card Fare Collection System
31 October, 2003
category: Contactless, Transit
Replacing Magnetics and Tokens Will Save Agency Millions in Maintenance Costs
SAN DIEGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oct. 30, 2003– Cubic Transportation Systems Inc., a subsidiary of San Diego-based
Cubic Corporation (AMEX:CUB), has been awarded a $72.5 million
contract from the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA)
to deliver a smart card-only multi-modal fare collection and revenue
management system. The new system will be the first in the U.S. to
deploy a low-cost, limited-use smart card.
Under the contract, which could be worth as much as $104 million
if options are exercised, Cubic will replace MARTA’s existing magnetic
ticketing and token-based system with the company’s state-of-the-art
open architecture smart card ticketing technology that will allow
commuters to use one card to pay for rail, bus, L-van (paratransit)
fares and park-and-ride fees. Other applications are planned in the
future.
The new multi-application fare collection system will make it
fast, easy and convenient for daily commuters as well as occasional
public transit users and tourists to travel using public
transportation in Atlanta. At the same, it will increase revenues and
operational efficiency for the agency.
“We are pleased to support MARTA in its mission to increase
ridership and reduce traffic through enhanced public services while
improving fare collection operations and providing for future regional
needs. With an integrated smart card-based fare collection system from
Cubic, MARTA will have a scalable system that combines innovation with
reliability, quality and customer focus,” said Richard Johnson,
president and CEO of Cubic Transportation Systems Inc.
Cubic is delivering software, computer networks, communications,
high-speed smart card encoding machines, sales terminals for customer
agents, parking equipment, bus fareboxes, faregates and multi-language
ticket vending machines that issue smart cards. Cubic is also
providing innovative customer service features including credit-debit
payment, Internet-based ticketing, Autoload (the ability to
automatically load value onto the card), and electronic transit
benefits delivery.
These and other advanced capabilities are integrated and managed
by Cubic’s Nextfare(TM) Central System, a configurable suite of
software modules designed using industry standards, open platforms and
commercial off-the-shelf applications to provide the core fare
collection, management and reporting functions. Through Nextfare’s
modular design and scalability, the MARTA system can expand to support
a variety of financial, operational and customer service options.
Beginning in 2006 when the system launches, patrons will be able
to use a customer service Web site to order and register cards, make
account queries and add value to their cards with the online
“Autoload” software feature. Added value can then be collected
automatically the next time customers use their cards in the system at
rail stations, on buses and L-vans, and when parking.
To support the needs of regular commuters, occasional transit
users and tourists, MARTA will offer two types of contactless smart
cards: hard plastic style similar to a credit-debit card that is
designed to be used for many years, and a paper version meant for
limited use. Both card types provide “touchless” entry, a feature with
potential for significant maintenance savings for the agency since
there are no moving parts to worry about in ticket processing. This
function is handled via Cubic’s patented Tri-Reader(R), which can read
any type of contactless smart card that meets ISO standards and is a
standard component in all Cubic’s fare collection equipment.
With Cubic’s Tri-Reader and Nextfare Central System in place,
MARTA will have the ability in the future to link to other transit
services in the region, as well as toll roads and airport parking.
Regional participants would have the advantage of a truly open system
with flexibility, interoperability and a range of fare media choices.
Cubic has supplied the only fully operational smart card-based
systems for public transit in the U.S., first in Washington, D.C.,
followed by Chicago. Next year, Cubic will deliver the nation’s first
multi-state system, which will expand Washington’s SmarTrip(R) system
to buses serving Washington, D.C., Maryland and northern Virginia. By
2005, the same technology will be installed on all the subway,
commuter rail and para-transit services in Baltimore and throughout
Maryland. Cubic will also deliver similar systems to Minneapolis-St.
Paul, Los Angeles, San Diego, Edmonton and the Port Authority of New
York & New Jersey for the PATH and JFK AirTrain systems. In July 2003,
Cubic won a $95 million contract to design, build, operate and
maintain the first smart card-based fare collection system in South
East Queensland, Australia. Cubic delivered a similar smart card-based
system in London as part of the TranSys consortium.
Cubic Transportation Systems is the world’s leading system
provider for regional multi-operator intermodal ticketing systems.
Every year, nearly 10 billion rides are taken worldwide using Cubic
fare collection systems in more than 40 major markets on five
continents, including London; New York; Washington, D.C.; Baltimore;
Sydney; counties in Sweden, Norway and Denmark; Rotterdam; Chicago;
Atlanta; San Francisco; Los Angeles; Miami; Hong Kong; Guangzhou;
Shanghai; and Singapore.
The corporation’s other major segment, Cubic Defense Applications,
provides instrumented air and ground combat training systems, battle
command training, simulations and simulation support for U.S. and
allied military forces. The group also produces high technology
avionics, data links and communications products for government and
commercial customers, and a wide range of technical and logistics
services. For more information about Cubic, see the company’s Web site
at www.cubic.com.
CONTACT: Cubic Corp., San Diego<br />
Jae Lande, 858-505-2642<br />
[email protected]
