January 31, 2006

Citibank PayPass to convert to subway smart card

MasterCard and Citigroup wil pay for a six-month pilot program on the New York City subways this spring that will allow riders to pay for their trip by waving a smart card rather than swiping a MetroCard.

Only PayPass cards and payment tags issued by Citibank will be used in the pilot program which will be set up at turnstiles in 23 stations between Bowling Green and 125th Street on the 4, 5 and 6 lines; at the Jay Street-Borough Hall station on the A, C and F lines in Brooklyn; and at the 23rd Street-Ely Avenue station on the E and V lines in Queens, according to the New York Times.

MasterCard PayPass has an embedded microchip and radio antenna and is already accepted at some fast-food restaurants, drug stores, gas stations, movie theaters and parking lots. The PayPass comes in either a tag that can be attached to a keychain or a standard credit-card size.

PayPass users will get the same 20 percent discount as with a regular MetroCard, (every sixth ride is free,) but the special cards will not allow a free transfer to city buses, which the MetroCard does.

Earlier: PATH brings on 'smart cards,' subways maybe next
Fare hikes, smart cards in works for subways, trains
The fine art of subway card swiping

January 31, 2006 08:23 AM in Techology, Transportology

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