Staten Island Railway to get contactless makeover
08 March, 2010
category: Contactless, Transit
A new smart card based fare system is in the works for the Saten Island Railway (SIR), according to silive.com.
The MTA has already installed new turnstiles at the Tompkinsville and Grasmere stations, and plans to finish the transition to contactless payment within the next few years.
The renovation of the once-free railway is part of MTA’s plan to raise more revenue and cut down on crime.
After onboard fare collectors were removed in 1997, the SIR has lost approximately $3.4 million a year. The MTA expects the Tompkinsville station alone will pull in over $700,000 annually.
As of now, SIR riders are still using Metro cards to pay, but the MTA will issue contactless smart cards in the next few years once the system goes online.
Read more here.