ACS to provide contactless ticketing system for Houston Transit System
16 January, 2006
category: Contactless, Transit
Dallas-based Affiliated Computer Services has landed a $14 million contract calling for installation of a contactless ticketing system for the fourth largest metropolitan area in the U.S. The contract includes the supply and installation of equipment for Houston’s 1,300 buses and light rail transit, system maintenance, and passenger assistance services.
DALLAS– Affiliated Computer Services, Inc., a premier provider of business process outsourcing and information technology solutions, announced that it has been selected by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (MTAHC) in Houston, Texas, to install a new contactless ticketing system for the area’s bus and light rail transportation network. Valued at $14 million, the contract calls for the roll out of the new system by the middle of 2006.
Houston now becomes a leading city in the United States in the operation of a large-scale contactless ticketing system, which has been successfully deployed in several international locations by ACS’ recently acquired Transport Revenue group based in Europe. The contract further strengthens ACS’ leading position as a global supplier of large-scale, multi-modal fare collection systems.
“In the second call for bids, launched last May, we were looking for a system that had been tried and tested,” explains Richard Lobron, project manager for MTAHC. “The solution presented by ACS is running in Lyon, France, and therefore met our requirements.”
The contract includes the supply and installation of equipment for Houston’s 1,300 buses and light rail transit, system maintenance, and passenger assistance services. The operator selected ACS after terminating its contract with the previous supplier.
The introduction of the smart card is a turning point in public transport development in Houston, the fourth largest metropolitan area in the United States. MTAHC intends to equip 70 percent of its passengers with smart cards in the first year. This will limit the use of on-board fare boxes to occasional riders and thereby reduce operating expenses. Contactless ticketing technology will also make passenger-boarding transactions more secure, fluid, and seamless. Users will have a choice of methods for reloading their cards, such as ticket sale locations, self-service terminals, or via the Internet. In addition, contactless tickets can be reloaded automatically by using a subscription service.
“This project is one of ACS’ major successes in the American fare collection market,” said Tom Burlin, group president of ACS Government Solutions. “With more than 100 contactless ticketing networks supplied by ACS globally, it confirms our leading position in this advanced technology.”
ACS, a FORTUNE 500 company with more than 55,000 people supporting client operations in nearly 100 countries, provides business process outsourcing and information technology solutions to world-class commercial and government clients. The company’s Class A common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ACS.” Visit ACS on the Internet at www.acs-inc.com.