Bus travel in Detroit is up for vote in cost-cutting legislation that could provide a smartcard payment system
A smartcard payment system for buses has been proposed as a solution to public transportation in the Detroit, Michigan area.
The area’s SMART bus system serves nearly 40,000 commuters daily and has been addressed in recently proposed legislation for property tax renewal. Part of the SMART system’s plans include issuing a smartcard for debit-like payments for bus transportation as part of efforts to cut $7 million in costs footed by area taxpayers. Voters in the Detroit area have consistently supported public transportation since 1995, approving legislation regarding the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation.
Offering smartcard technology is seen as a benefit to local businesses as it can facilitate the commute for employees in the area. In an interview with the Detroit Free Press, Duane Swanson, operations director for the Somerset Inn in Troy, Michigan, said "transit is a critical part of getting the best people."
"It gives me a better selection of employees, [because] not everyone owns a vehicle," he added.
Smartcards have become a common solution to facilitate public transportation in other large cities across the country. Recent research on cab fares in New York City found more than 850,000 commuters used a smartcard payment system to pay for transportation in the city’s taxis.
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