UTA, MetraTech, ERG Group to launch contactless card fare system...

UTA, MetraTech, ERG Group to launch contactless card fare system in Utah
Monday 10 November 2008 | 05:13 PM CET
The Utah Transport Authority (UTA) has teamed up with US producer of 4th generation BSS systems MetraTech and Australian-based technology company ERG Group to launch a contactless credit card payment fare system.

The system is powered by MetraTech’s MetraNet product. Under the contract signed by the parties, ERG will develop and implement the fare collection system which will include acceptance of contactless credit cards.

The MetraTech-based ERG fare collection system is account-based and accepts payments from various contactless cards including UTA-issued cards, employer-provided smart cards as well as contactless credit cards. At a later stage, the system will feature a unique-to-ERG onboard rapid authorisation of contactless credit cards to minimise credit card fraud risks. The contract comes after a successful contactless payments pilot implemented for busses having routes in Salt Lake City ski areas. During the trial, customers were able to use their smart cards for both transit payment and ski resort access.