New ways to pay: New Jersey Transit says it working “to transform the customer experience through innovation and technology,” showcasing fare collection modernization efforts during an event at its Secaucus Junction Station:
- New, high-tech fare gates from Conduent Transportation equipped with advanced 3D sensors and imaging technology, to be installed at Secaucus Junction and Newark Liberty Airport stations. The nearly eight-foot-tall gates use advanced sensors and 3-D technology to enhance security and revenue protection.
- In September, NJT expanded its “FARE-PAY” card to customers traveling all NJT buses statewide as well as the Newark Light Rail, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and River LINE systems. The reusable cards allow customers to purchase and store monthly passes, 10-trip bus tickets or cash value on them to enjoy the convenience of tap-and-go. The new, reusable FARE-PAY fare cards make it easier for customers to travel the system by allowing them to register their card to protect their stored value from loss, manage their accounts online, view fare card activity and current value, auto-reload online, at ticket windows, TVMs and at select retail locations. A credit/debit card is not required.
- New Bus Fare Box/Registers “will be more efficient and improve reliability of onboard fare collection. The new fare boxes will also accept additional bill denominations giving customers more flexibility with payments.”
- New mobile validation devices used by train crews for scanning rail tickets. These devices are currently being piloted and will be deployed systemwide in the coming months and will provide enhanced capabilities such as acceptance of the FARE-PAY card, which is not possible with the first generation of mobile validation devices.
- Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) have been upgraded throughout the state to accept tap-and-go payments from credit/debit cards as well as sales of the new FARE-PAY cards. The machines also have modern capabilities to accept mobile payment systems such as Apple Pay and Google Wallet. This latest generation of TVMs also feature additional customer information display boards.
- A Web Ticketing Platform allows customers to purchase rail tickets from their web browser and display or print the QR code without having to download the mobile app. This provides electronic ticketing options to infrequent users of the system who may not have the mobile app installed.
“Our fare modernization program is focused on making every step of the customer journey more seamless, efficient, and secure,” said NJT President and CEO Kris Kolluri, a featured speaker at Railway Age’s Oct. 29-31 Next Gen Rail Systems Conference. “From advanced 3D fare gates to expanded contactless payments, we’re improving the way customers move through the system with greater ease and reliability while protecting revenue.”
