Cubic Transportation Systems, a subsidiary of Cubic Corporation and a manufacturer of automated fare collection systems, has won a contract to replace Miami-Dade Transit's current fare collection system with a contactless smart card system.
The solution replaces an original Cubic system, which was installed in 1983, and will lower agency operating costs and create new service options for patrons.
As the first transit agency in Florida to adopt contactless technology, Miami-Dade County will lead the way toward future interoperability with other agencies in the South Florida region, including the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA)/Tri-Rail, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
To achieve this objective, the system will be compliant with the Contactless Fare Media Standard ratified and published by the American Public Transportation Association in 2007. Cubic's recent smart card system launches for the Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation (PATH) in New York-New Jersey and the Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) in Philadelphia are the nation's first, and only, CFMS-compliant fare collection systems since the standard was adopted.
Miami's new fare collection system will be based on Cubic's proven technology and software platform for all-contactless smart card ticketing, most recently delivered to the Metropolitan Atlanta Regional Transit Authority (MARTA), a Cubic customer since 1978.
The fare collection technology will be based on Cubic's Nextfare Solution Suite, and includes all hardware, software and support utilities. The suite features Cubic's open architecture Tri-Reader smart card processor and the Nextfare Business Management System, a total enterprise management system for fare collection operations.
New features such as Auto-Reload and Web Ticket Purchases will be facilitated by the overall solution. The Miami fare collection system will use both full-feature smart cards for regular commuters and limited use smart cards for visitors and occasional riders, providing added convenience for Metrobus and Metrorail users.