Ottawa transit smart-card project gets $7M from Ontario
Last Updated: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 | 5:06 PM ET
CBC News
Ontario is providing $7 million toward a program that would produce electronic fare cards for Ottawa public transit users.
"Once fully installed in 2011, the system will allow transit users to ditch their passes in favour of a contact-free smart-card which riders will wave at the card reader as they board the bus, O-train and future rail lines," Municipal Affairs Minister Jim Watson announced Wednesday at city hall.
The City of Ottawa is to pay the rest of the $21 million cost of installing the system, which is expected to cost $528,000 a year to operate.
The card would replace transit passes for unlimited travel. People without passes could also pre-pay a certain amount and have individual fares deducted from the card each time they ride.
According to the City of Ottawa, the cards will
- Make it easier for passengers to pay their fares.
- Speed up boarding.
- Reduce fare evasion.
- Save paper
- Be compatible with the system used in Gatineau and make travel easier across the two systems.
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