Thursday, August 14, 2008

48 high schools to get CTA 'smart cards'

Wow this is interesting, Tribune:
Students at 48 Chicago high schools will be issued a combined school ID and CTA reduced-fare card this year under an agreement approved Wednesday.

The initiative, aimed at increasing transit use among students and cutting CTA administrative costs in the existing reduced-fare program, will be expanded to all Chicago Public Schools high schools within 18 months, said Lydia Murray, chief of staff to CTA president Ron Huberman.

About 90,000 Chicago high school students are eligible to ride CTA buses and trains at the reduced fare of 85 cents, and 15 cents for a transfer, on school days from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Integrating student IDs with a CTA "smart card" increased student ridership and reduced the number of lost ID cards by 50 percent during a two-month test at Carver Military Academy and Prosser Career Academy during the past school year, officials said.

The CTA reported faster boarding times with the use of the student smart card, which is similar to the CTA Chicago Card. Users can add value to the card at CTA vending machines.
$500,000 expected savings for this program.

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