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Nancy Mikeska, deputy city administrator, said the upgrade is intended to modernize how riders pay fares while speeding up boarding and improving safety by reducing or eliminating cash handling on buses.
Under the system described to council, riders would load fares onto their cell phones, and onboard readers would validate payment “within 200 milliseconds,” Mikeska said, calling it a convenience boost that should also lead to faster loading at stops.
Staff also said the technology will allow the city to better track ridership and provide riders with real-time arrivals and schedules on their phones.
Council member Shana Arthur raised concerns about residents who don’t have smartphones, but said staff’s research indicated “probably 90% or more” of riders have a phone to use the system, and said the city would not want to eliminate anyone who doesn’t.
Council approved the lowest bid among three bidders. The total cost presented was $238,584, with $190,867 coming from a federal grant; staff said the net cost to the city would be $47,716.
The agreement discussed was for a three-year term, and staff told council the city could pursue additional grants after that period.
