The vendor is required to provide fare collection system (FCS) currently based on farebox cash payments, magnetic stripe passes and visual validation mobile ticketing, to a next-generation, account-based system that improves boarding speed and reduces operator interaction.
- Fare collection system to be the holistic system of hardware, software, personnel, and standard operating procedures necessary to collect, count, and report passenger fares.
- Current fare hardware systems
• Genfare fast fare fareboxes (on 50 buses currently) with one open ethernet port (Digi wr44)
• Genfare odyssey fareboxes (on 68 buses) with one open ethernet port (Digi wr44)
• Genfare odyssey fareboxes (on 66 streetcars, 132 devices total) with one open ethernet port each (Digi wr44)
• 3 Genfare TVM vend star 4 for use in hubs/in front of canal
• 6 Genfare TVM vend star 4 all dedicated to ferry, not currently installed
- Current fare sales practices
• Fare collection for fixed route service significantly involves Genfare farebox systems that accept cash, coins, and paper passes
• Although fast fare fareboxes also have NFC, tap-to-pay, mag stripe, and QR scanning technology, those functions are not all utilized in current agency practices.
• TVMs accept cash and credit cards and print paper, magnetic-stripe tickets that are validated at on-vehicle fareboxes.
• TVMs are capable of printing and scanning QR codes, but those functions are not utilized in current agency practices.
• Mobile ticketing currently relies on visual verification from operators.
• The agency uses token transit as a back-end payment collection system integrated into a moovit-developed white-label app owned by authority (“le pass”), the transit app, and other mobile platforms
magnetic-stripe pass products are also sold via direct sale from the agency and distributed via USPS or delivered by the agency. retail partners sell some fare products at 16 locations across the city.
- Coordinated fare modernization initiative (CFMI)
• Improve service—enhance service reliability and increase overall speed of service through reducing dwell time associated with fare payment and collection.
• Advance diversity, equity, and inclusion—ensure fare collection modernization is a net benefit for riders regardless of their access to banking, use of technology or ability; prioritize regular, local riders and leverage m and reduce barriers to faster payment system.
• Minimize operator involvement in fare collection—minimize the role of operators in fare collection and fare disputes to allow them to focus on providing safe, reliable, and welcoming service.
• Support open standards—design an FCS that will allow future adaptability and system resilience by using open standards.
• Increase efficiency and simplicity—ensure FCS technology, payments, and processes from end user to back office are not overly complex or processes are increase speed and efficiency of rider boarding and simplicity of fare elements for customers.
• Expand and connect participation—permit the growth of fare sales through third-party providers, employers, and stakeholders; be scalable to integrate other regional transit agencies and transportation modes.
• Optimize return on investment—optimize the value of capital and operating expenditures on fare elements.
• Support regional integration—design a system that can serve as a regional solution for authority and neighboring agencies for a seamless rider experience across transit systems.
- Program requirements
• Utilizes open architecture.
• Supports account-based ticketing and a system for fare capping
• Allows future flexibility in FCS development.
• Simplifies boarding experience for riders and operators.
• Supports operational efficiencies for applicable transit modes.
• Reduces the share of purchases made at vehicle farebox in cash.
• Improves back-end reporting and integration with agency data systems.
- Task order services
• The consultant shall provide task order (TO) professional consulting services in connection with the coordinated fare modernization initiative and implementation of the next-generation FCS.
• Authority shall notify the consultant in writing of the task order services.
- Questions/Inquires Deadline: April 17, 2025