Kimberly Robinson, 25, a native New Yorker who lives in West Philly and takes SEPTA to and from work, said, "I like [the smart card] better than tokens, honestly. It's easier to have a pass [like New York's Metrocard] where you can put money on it whenever you want."
Erica Johnson, 19, of Olney, said yesterday that smart cards would be "a lot easier" because the places that sell tokens "are sometimes closed. You can't buy them all the time."
Craig Roberts, technology-development director at the Utah Transit Authority, said that Salt Lake City, where UTA issued 210,000 contactless smart cards to students and employees of large corporations last January, is the first American city where riders can use their contactless bank credit/debit cards, as well as the transit system's cards.
Steve Frazzini, chief fare-payment officer at New York City Transit, said, "[We] have completed a very successful pilot on our largest subway line in New York City and will demonstrate a second phase at year's end that includes acceptance of contactless payment devices from all card brands and issuing banks, with real-time authorization."
Frazzini said that the next phase will include up to 275 buses and will link to a pilot with the Port Authority of NY/NJ, PATH and New Jersey Transit.
Meanwhile, back in Philly, McGee prepares to pick a smart-card partner this fall and dreams of the day when the token goes the nostalgic way of its pre-SEPTA predecessors - as this online ad at www.nycwebstore reveals:
"Philadelphia Transit Token Cufflinks - Designed for the discriminating man, these sterling silver cufflinks feature vintage Philadelphia transit tokens. Remember having a pocketful of tokens?" *
Staff writer St. John Barned-Smith contributed to this report.
