Integrated Fare Card System Synthesis Report

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has developed a contactless fare card system to automate the collection of fares along its rail and bus route services. At the same time, there are indications that other regional transit authorities as well as other transportation providers in the Commonwealth are considering new technologies to streamline their payment collection and processing activities. A major question being raised is: Are there merits to the development of an integrated system so that multiple fare payments could be collected in a coordinated manner by two or more regional transit authorities with a single card or other medium? An objective of this research project is to address this question by identifying the benefits and challenges associated with the development and deployment of such an integrated fare card and payment system. The anticipated benefits of an integrated fare card system include user convenience; equity and fairness; improved data collection; cost sharing; and reductions in operating costs and increases in revenue. Challenges identified include personal identification security; administrative issues; technology concerns;service coordination issues; and system affordability. Based on the results and conclusions of this synthesis, recommendations have been developed and proposed to serve as a set of guidelines in assisting integrated fare card stakeholders as they move forward with consideration of an integrated fare card system.