Cubic to enhance MTA fare collection system

Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) is to carry out a major upgrade to the Maryland Transit Authority’s (MTA) automatic fare collection (AFC) system, under a US$4.8 million contract modification which also includes setting the foundation for new features and functionality. The upgraded system will provide the MTA with the opportunity to accept new payment methods, such as mobile payments, as well as add new features, including a new customer web portal and an integration path with third-party transport servi
November 22, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
378 Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) is to carry out a major upgrade to the Maryland Transit Authority’s (MTA) automatic fare collection (AFC) system, under a US$4.8 million contract modification which also includes setting the foundation for new features and functionality. The upgraded system will provide the MTA with the opportunity to accept new payment methods, such as mobile payments, as well as add new features, including a new customer web portal and an integration path with third-party transport services in the future.

Under the contract modification, CTS will upgrade AFC from its NextFareTM 4.0 revenue management system, to NextFare 7, a cost-effective solution giving the MTA the freedom to innovate, without having to overhaul the entire AFC system. The cloud-based platform will replace all the key functionality currently provided by the existing scheme and offer a number of advanced features, such as payment card industry (PCI) compliant payment application for processing credit and debit transactions; support of enhanced fare policy; and enhanced reporting and analytics, as well as allow the MTA to monitor the conditions of fare collection equipment, so that repairs can be made quickly and efficiently, little impact on customer service.

The platform can also be enhanced in the future to enable the MTA to integrate third-party systems, such as bike-sharing and ride-sharing services, into the transport experience for the public, in alignment with its BaltimoreLink program.

Related Content

  • February 14, 2024
    All-electronic toll collection: the promise - and the reality
    Hal Worrall and Mike Carneiro look at the history of AETC - and offer some thoughts on why it cannot just be seen as an expansion of existing ETC technology
    Read More
  • September 12, 2024
    What’s right with this picture?
    AI-driven image review is a game changer for tolling industry efficiency. Rafael Hernandez of IntelliRoad outlines the importance of partnerships with service providers
    Read More
  • November 18, 2016
    Cubic partners with Microsoft CityNext
    Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS), is to participate in Microsoft CityNext, a global initiative which aims to help cities do ‘new with less’, by combining the power of technology with innovative solutions to connect governments, businesses and citizens with services that increase efficiencies, reduce costs, foster a more sustainable environment and cultivate thriving communities. NextCity is Cubic’s coordinated framework for building a smarter tomorrow in the world’s urban centers where increasing popu
    Read More
  • December 16, 2013
    Smart phones offer smarter way to pay for travel
    David Crawford reviews developments in near field communications for mass transit payments. ‘A carefully-designed and well-implemented mobile near field communications (NFC) solutions can give passengers a compelling experience that will encourage them to make greater use of public transport.’ That was the confident conclusion of a recent joint White Paper drawn up by the International Association of Public Transport and the global mobile operators’ representative group GSMA.
    Read More

Highlighted Content