BART plans to roll out TransLink card this summer
26 March, 2009
category: Contactless, Financial, Transit
The Bay Area Rapid Transit System, BART, starting this summer will make the TransLink regional fare card available to its riders. The universal card, already in use by San Francisco’s MTA and several other transit agencies, can be set up to automatically reload BART’s fare when the account reaches a minimum amount.
TransLink, a rechargeable dual-interface contact/contactless stored value card, is designed to eventually connect riders on more than two dozen Bay Area transit systems.
A BART spokesperson said the agency intends to roll out TransLink beginning with a small group of riders who already use BARTs EZ Rider fare card. This card was created to make the transition to TransLink easier as it uses the same smart card technology.
Introduced as a pilot program in 2002, TransLink’s purpose is to reduce the number of fare systems and help integrate transit systems in the Bay Area.