Ottawa transit smart-card project gets $7M from Ontario

Ontario is providing $7 million toward a program that would produce electronic fare cards for Ottawa public transit users.

"Once fully installed in 2011, the system will allow transit users to ditch their passes in favour of a contact-free smart-card which riders will wave at the card reader as they board the bus, O-train and future rail lines," Municipal Affairs Minister Jim Watson announced Wednesday at city hall.

The City of Ottawa is to pay the rest of the $21 million cost of installing the system, which is expected to cost $528,000 a year to operate.

The card would replace transit passes for unlimited travel. People without passes could also pre-pay a certain amount and have individual fares deducted from the card each time they ride.

According to the City of Ottawa, the cards will

• Make it easier for passengers to pay their fares.
• Speed up boarding.
• Reduce fare evasion.
• Save paper
• Be compatible with the system used in Gatineau and make travel easier across the two systems.