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AGENDA REPORT (-7??CLii:-/
CITY OF MOORPARK
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Mary K. Lindley, Assistant to the City Manager )
DATE: January 4, 1995 (CC Meeting of January 18)
SUBJECT: Consider Participation in the "Smart Card"
Demonstration Project
Background
Caltrans is working with a select group of Transportation
Commissions, including VCTC, to demonstrate the "Smart Card"
project. Transit operators in Ventura County are being presented
with the opportunity to participate in the project on a voluntary
basis. It is hoped that if successful, the operators will choose
to continue to use the system after the demonstration period ends.
Your staff is recommending that the City of Moorpark decline
participation in the project.
The "Smart Card" is a computerized debit system for collecting
fares on local buses. Bus riders purchase a bus fare card which
looks like a credit card. The card is magnetized and commuter
programmed for the amount purchased. Each time the rider boards a
I bus, the card is passed over a computerized fare machine which
reads the card and deducts the amount of the fare.
VCTC's interest in the "Smart Card" is its potential for replacing
the existing countywide monthly pass. For the demonstration
period, Caltrans will provide and maintain all necessary equipment
at no cost, although transit operators must assist with equipment
4 installation. The demonstration program will last one year, after
which time transit operators will have the option of keeping the
I equipment, again at no cost. Thereafter, maintenance and repair of
the equipment will be the full responsibility of the transit
operator.
The advantage of the "Smart Card" is that drivers do not have to
collect or monitor fare deposits. In addition, the computerized
fare machine records boardings and is able to provide ridership
counts.
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"Smart Card" Demonstration
January 4 , 1995
Page 2
The disadvantage is that transit operators must provide staff time
for training and to reactivate (computerize) a rider's card each
time it expires (monthly) . After the demonstration period,
operators will bare the full cost for maintaining and replacing
equipment.
At this time, the City's bus carries only four riders who use the
countywide pass. Because of the low interest by Moorpark riders in
the pass, there appears to be no advantage to participating in the
"Smart Card" project for the City of Moorpark. With only one bus,
the collection of fares and ridership counts is fairly easy to do.
In addition, the availability of long-term transit funds is in
question and staff believes that it would not be wise to implement
a program that would lead to future transit expenditures without
much benefit.
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council decline Moorpark's
participation in the "Smart Card" demonstration project and direct
staff to communicate the Council's action to the Ventura County
Transportation Commission.
00087