Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has endorsed a bill that would require Chicago-area transit agencies to have a universal fare card by 2015. According to the Chicago Tribune, cities like Hong Kong and London have had universal transit cards for years.
The bill requires that the Regional Transportation Authority must develop and have available for riders a universal fare cared by Jan. 1, 2015. The card must be interchangeable on all bus, rapid transit, commuter rail and paratransit services, and allows passengers to use contactless credit cards, debit cards and pre-paid cards to pay fo all fixed-route public transportation services. The bill also calls on the RTA to submit a report on providing wireless Internet services on all fixed-route transportation services.
For more, visit www.chicagotribune.com.