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28/07/2010 -
The Toronto Transit Commission continues to prepare a new payment scheme that would allow riders to pay fares by tapping their debit or credit card on a contactless reader, rather than forcing customers to swipe at credit card machines, the Globe and Mail writes.The new payment strategy - open standard-based fare payment - is part of a push by the credit card industry to take advantage of small value transactions such as candy bars, newspapers and transportation fares. Currently, global transit fares represent a $72-billion market that credit card companies have barely cracked, the newspaper reports.
Toronto, which hopes to begin the program as early as this fall, has pointed to programs in other large cities such as New York, Washington and Philadelphia to deflect criticism and unease among some city residents.
However, the above cities have barely moved out of the pilot-stage, are stuck in proposal phase, or have stalled their plans indefinitely. Leanne Redden, deputy executive director of Chicago's Regional Transportation Authority, told the paper, "It may not be bad to sit back for six to 12 months and see how it plays out."
While the city of Toronto continues to pursue its flexible payment plans, Ottawa remains committed to implementing Presto, a $22.8 million transit smart card system, the Ottawa Sun reports. Presto cards will allow customers to load transit cards with funds and tap them in order to board buses.
