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Chicagoland Commuters Become the First in U.S. to Have Smart Card Access to Multiple Transit Agency Systems San Diego, Calif., Aug. 1, 2000 -- Chicagoland commuters today become the first in the United States able to travel throughout their city and suburbs using one fully operational, intermodal (train and bus), multi-agency contactless smart card. Today is the first day of full-scale sales for the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) new smart card system, developed by Cubic Transportation Systems, a subsidiary of San Diego-based Cubic Corporation (AMEX: CUB). Transit users will shave valuable time off their commutes with a state-of-the-art chip card that stores value for future rides and provides smoother access to rail, bus and suburban bus. Commuters can simply wave their cards near a smart card reader in gates and turnstiles, barely slowing their strides. The new technology also includes software and data collection that will allow transit customers to reclaim stored value if their cards are lost or stolen. "We`re delighted and proud to be working with the CTA to provide this cutting-edge technology for Chicago commuters," said Walter C. Zable, Cubic Transportation Systems president. "As the rollout progresses, CTA will be among the agencies leading the world in offering unique technology that provides speedy transit access, while offering customers multiple non-transit applications." The CTA`s stored-value card (SVC) system, introduced to Chicago by Cubic three years ago, was smart-card ready, thanks to Cubic and the agency`s foresight when the system went on line. By anticipating the future rollout of the state-of-the art technology, the CTA is able to introduce smart cards cost effectively, while allowing other customers to continue using their magnetic stripe cards. The SVC magnetic farecard system already supports more than one transit mode -- CTA’s rail and bus systems -- as well as different agencies, the CTA and Pace -- the suburban bus division of the Regional Transportation Authority, which operates approximately 600 Chicagoland buses. Overall, the new contactless smart cards are available for use on more than 1,800 buses and at 143 rail stations. "Smart cards offer easier access, durability and reliability as a way for CTA customers to pay their fares. Smart transit cards last longer than magnetic stripe transit cards, and riders can keep them longer," said CTA President Frank Kruesi. "We are pleased to move forward into the smart card era and give our riders more flexibility when it comes to paying their fares." The CTA smart card rollout, part of its existing $106 million farecard contract with Cubic, makes Chicago the second major city in the U.S. to use smart cards for mass transportation. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which, like Chicago, uses the Cubic Go Card® and Cubic systems infrastructure, provides smart card access to trains and parking facilities in the Washington, D.C. area. Cubic introduced the world`s first transit-based smart card system in 1989 in London. The company also has implemented smart card technology in Kuala Lumpur; Shanghai and Guangzhou, China; Germany; and Scandinavia. The company has the world`s largest base of mass-transit ticketing systems -- including SVC, magnetic and smart card rail, bus, subway, toll and parking. It has complete system installations in London, China, Argentina, New York, Sydney, Singapore, Mexico, Scandinavia, San Francisco and Atlanta, in addition to Chicago and Washington, D.C. Cubic Transportation Systems is the world`s leading provider of intelligent ticketing systems and integration of those systems for transit, with more than half a billion passengers around the world utilizing its turnkey solutions. Cubic Corporation Background: Cubic Corporation is the parent company of two major segments: Transportation Systems and Defense. Cubic Transportation Systems is the world’s leading supplier of automated ticketing systems for mass transit. Every day, nearly a half billion people use Cubic systems in more than 40 major markets, including London, Washington, D.C., Hong Kong, Chicago, and New York. In addition, Cubic has installed turnkey ticketing systems in Kuala Lumpur, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Atlanta, and San Francisco. Cubic’s Defense Group provides instrumented training systems for military forces, avionics, data links, aerospace systems, and product logistical support. Companies within the Defense Group also provide battle command training, radio communications systems, and field service operations and maintenance. Cubic Web site: www.cubic.com |
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| Autor (Datum des Eintrages): | tantor (25.08.00 18:56:48) |
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