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Credit Cards as Fare Cards?
First, thanks so much to @cancemini4 for pointing this article out to us today.
According to WUSA 9, and I'm sure a host of other local news sources, Metro is talking about allowing customers to pay their fares directly with a credit card. Read the brief article here. This article is pretty ambiguous so a lot is left open to interpretation. But I *assume* this means it would allow riders to wave their credit cards, at least those nextgen cards that contain a chip (RFID? Not sure) over a credit card reader built into the gate - just as you would a SmartTrip card. The article says this makes riding more convenient, especially for tourists.
Yes, that would make it easier for tourists. Does it make it easier for commuters and everyday riders? No, I don't think it helps at all. I don't want to be pulling out my credit card every time I go to get on the metro. Maybe it would read it through your wallet just like the SmartTrip does? I don't think so, that seems like it would present too many problems since the average American has far more than just one credit card in their wallet. And does this mean it processes each ride as a separate transaction on your credit card? That's a little ridiculous for commuters. Maybe it would batch bill them?
The article also says that Metro is going to start talking with companies to get proposals for how to install and run this potential new system. It doesn't seem right to me to be spending $1 on a project that will make it more convenient for tourists, who will use the system regardless of this, when we have massive budget shortfalls in simply maintaining the system we have today. I have no doubt that a project like this would cost millions and millions of dollars for a system the size of the Metro. There are sooo many things the average metro rider wants to see taken care of - and this is not on the top 100 list. If you think I'm wrong, let me know. But this idea is a bit borderline ridiculous given the current economic climate and the needs of the Metro system.
2 comments:
I agree that this idea is a bit ridiculous. If they really want to make credit cards useful for metro travel, they need to transition ALL of the farecard machines to be able to accept them.
I really think they could make metro more convenient by making 'fast pass' lanes in every station (or at least every major commuter station downtown) where you can only use a smartrip card. They already have them at a couple of stations like Navy Yard at the baseball stadium.
If they did those two things, which may be collectively cheaper than the credit card turnstile idea, it would make things a LOT easier for everyone on the train.
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