[Press Release] : Columbia Transit upgrades fare boxes with 'Smart Card' technology

[pr-l at news.gocolumbiamo.com]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2006

CONTACT: Columbia Transit
(573) 874-7282

Columbia Transit upgrades fare boxes with 'Smart Card' technology
									
	(COLUMBIA, MO) - For Columbia Transit passengers, smart
commuting means more than just saving money on gas. This June, pass and
ticket holders will start using the FASTPass, a new fare card that
employs "smart card" technology. Instead of the old cardstock passes
and bus tickets, riders will purchase plastic cards with magnetic strips
that they will swipe in the bus fare box. The fare box will
automatically deduct the fare from the card.
	The new fare boxes will also print out paper transfers for
passengers whose destinations require travel on more than one bus. When
riders transfer to their new bus, they feed their transfer into the fare
box, which shreds it so it cannot be reused and saves it for paper
recycling.
	Now, riders will be able to purchase 30-day, unlimited-ride
FASTPass cards at any time - not just at the beginning or end of the
month. The passes are good for 30 calendar days after first use, and the
expiration date is printed on the back of the card. A 7-day FASTPass is
available for students.
	Twenty-five ride FASTPass cards will replace bulky ticket books.
Each time the rider swipes the card, the fare box prints out the
remaining number of rides on the back of the card. Passengers can easily
keep track of their remaining rides.
	Prices for the new FASTPasses are the same as for the old passes
and ticket books. FASTPass is available at Wabash Station Monday through
Friday, 6:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Half-fare
riders need to show drivers proof of eligibility when they swipe their
FASTPass cards. Fare machines will still accept old tickets, coins or
dollars, but will not make change. For more information, call the Wabash
Station at 874-7282.

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