Washington metro gets Cubic ticketing

Cubic Transportation Systems has been awarded a contract for more than US$8 million to convert existing paper magnetic fare card vending machines to sales and reload devices for SmarTrip, the contactless smart card for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). The project is part of the agency’s plan to eliminate paper ticketing from its fare system to all contactless media by spring 2016. Cubic will upgrade more than 500 machines with hardware kits including smart card readers and re
July 29, 2014 Read time: 2 mins

378 Cubic Transportation Systems has been awarded a contract for more than US$8 million to convert existing paper magnetic fare card vending machines to sales and reload devices for SmarTrip, the contactless smart card for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).  The project is part of the agency’s plan to eliminate paper ticketing from its fare system to all contactless media by spring 2016.

Cubic will upgrade more than 500 machines with hardware kits including smart card readers and related software on all Metrorail lines, including the Silver Line to Dulles Airport that opened two days ago.  Cubic also produced and installed the fare collection system to the new line under a separate contract.

Cubic has been involved with WMATA’s fare collection since the system opened.   The company delivered the original magnetics-based system in use since the early 1970s, and designed and delivered the SmarTrip system that opened to the public in 1999. 

“We’re pleased to be part of WMATA’s transition to a paperless system, as well as having been so involved throughout the agency’s entire fare collection history,” said Matt Newsome, senior vice president and general manager, Cubic Transportation Systems, Americas. “Cubic brought contactless technology to the region – in fact, it was the first contactless system for transit in the US.  WMATA set the standard that other agencies followed.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Malta upgrades public transport system
    March 30, 2016
    Spanish technology company GMV has been awarded a contract by the Malta Public Transport (MPT) to provide the advanced fleet-management and video surveillance system (SAE-CCTV) and the electronic fare-collection system for the modernisation of Malta’s buses. MPT has purchased 143 new low-floor buses for the modernisation process; these feature an advanced fleet management system along with a state-of-the-art ticketing system. The SAE-CCTV is GPS, 3G and wifi-enabled, with door sensors, connection to a
    Read More
  • Cubic Launches Ventra mobile app for Chicago public transport systems
    November 26, 2015
    Cubic Transportation Systems, in partnership with customers Chicago Transit Authority, suburban bus operator Pace and commuter rail Metra, has launched the Ventra Mobile App for public transport passengers in Chicago. The one-stop mobile app gives transit passengers who travel on CTA ‘L’ trains or buses, Pace or Metra commuter trains the ability to plan, manage and pay for their journeys for each of the region’s agencies. The companies say this is an industry first for fully integrated regional transit s
    Read More
  • Downtown Chattanooga gets smarter
    January 10, 2023
    Seoul Robotics will deliver 86 new smart city intersections in Tennessee city
    Read More
  • Smart Ticketing Alliance promises smart ticketing interoperability
    July 1, 2013
    Following the 2012 memorandum of understanding, a Smart Ticketing Alliance Charter has now been agreed by representatives of VDV KA (Germany), ITSO (UK), AFIMB (France), the Calypso Network Association and UITP (International Association of Public Transport). This is a step forward in making transport ticketing across parts of Europe simpler and easier for passengers, by creating a platform for cooperation throughout Europe and globally. It represents a coordinated approach for establishing smart ticketing
    Read More

Highlighted Content