By Amelia Johnson

Louisville’s Transit Authority of River City is planning to make big changes to their buses’ fare collection system in the summer of 2014.

The new systems will allow passengers to use smartcards that have a fast “tap and go” capability as a more technologically advanced way to pay fares. The current fare of $1.50 will not increase with the smartcard. Cash will still remain a payment option with an exact fare of $1.75.

Smartcards will replace paper tickets, passes and transfer slips. Free transfers will be available with smartcard payments but not with cash because drivers will no longer distribute paper transfer slips. Passes purchased for smartcard use will allow unlimited rides beginning the first time it is used for payment, eliminating the need for paper passes that are limited to specific days or a specific month. TARC is also making plans to offer 7-day passes, 24-hour and 30-day passes.

“The system will be 21st century like,” said Executive Director of TARC J. Barry Barker. “Because of the obsolescence of the old system, convenience for the drivers and passengers and to display new data with exact dates and time.”

The free-fare rate for students with a student ID will still be enforced. The University of Louisville is working with TARC to accommodate students and drivers with the transition to come. Both the University and TARC are currently working on the technical difficulty of merging student IDs with the new Smartcards.

nitial distribution of smartcards will be by mail, then they may be purchased online or visiting TARC Headquarters or retail outlets. TARC is working to increase the number of retail outlets that will offer smartcards.

Purchases or value additions will not be available on buses. Stored values on smartcards can be up to $100 for individual rides at $1.50 a ride or a pass for unlimited rides for a specific time period beginning when the pass is first used. Smartcards may be registered online for balance protection if a card is lost or stolen. Smartcards may be loaded with passes with cash, check or credit payments.

TARC is considering public commentary through Nov. 21 that will include eight public open house meetings, the first being Nov. 12 at the TARC Union Station Lobby. The meetings will consist of one-on-one conversations with the TARC associates. TARC encourages the public to voice their opinions at one of the public open house meetings or through Facebook or Twitter.

 

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