Smart Card Alliance Forms Transportation Council to Support the Growing Use of Smart Cards in Transportation

Smart Card Alliance Forms Transportation Council to Support the Growing Use of Smart Cards in Transportation

Princeton Junction, NJ, March 21, 2005–The Smart Card Alliance today announced the formation of the Transportation Council to promote the adoption of contactless interoperable smart card payment systems for transit and other transportation services. The newly formed Transportation Council, in association with the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), will initiate projects to support applications of smart card use. The overall goal of the Alliance’s Transportation Council is to help accelerate the deployment of standards-based smart card payment programs within the transportation industry.

“The transit industry has made significant progress in supporting the use of contactless smart card-based payments as the most convenient and secure payment option for commuters,” said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance. “The Transportation Council would like to leverage that progress by joining forces with key organizations, such as APTA, to address ways to accelerate payment processing across multiple operators.”

Initial Transportation Council projects will support advancement of transit fare collection systems and explore linkages between transit payment systems and smart card programs in the tolling, parking and financial industries. The Council also plans to investigate how transportation payment systems and credentialing systems can be linked through the use of multi-application smart card technology.

“We are pleased that the transportation marketplace has matured to the point that there is energy and interest in forming a special market Council. We are honored to be the interim co-chairs, helping to develop a work plan that further advances the adoption of smart cards,” said Greg Garback, executive officer–finance, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and Mike Dinning, chief–Infrastructure Protection and Operations Division, U.S. Department of Transportation/Volpe Center.

“This new partnership between the Transportation Council and APTA is an important step forward in the development of interface standards for transit payment systems,” said William W. Millar, president, American Public Transportation Association. “This partnership will leverage the critical knowledge and technological insight of Alliance members bringing an expanded perspective and understanding.”

The Transportation Council is open to participation from vendors and transit organizations that join the Alliance and the Council. It will be managed by a steering committee, initially co-chaired by Mike Dinning and Greg Garback. The steering committee includes a broad spectrum of leaders from the transportation and smart card industries, such as APTA, systems integrators, consultancies, financial service providers and technology firms. Current members include:

  • Tom Parker, BART
  • Martin Schroeder, APTA
  • Willy Dommen, Booz Allen Hamilton
  • Marty Turock, Cubic
  • Michael Laezza, ERG Group
  • Karen Loughlin, IBM
  • Paul Legacki, Infineon Technologies
  • Martyn Cooper, MasterCard International
  • Bob Wilberger, Northrop Grumman Corporation

Alliance Technology and Industry Councils

The Transportation Council is one of several new Smart Card Alliance Technology and Industry Councils, a new type of focused group within the overall structure of the Alliance. These councils have been created to foster increased industry collaboration within a specified industry or market segment and produce tangible results, speeding smart card adoption and industry growth.

About the Smart Card Alliance

The Smart Card Alliance is a not-for-profit, multi-industry association working to accelerate the acceptance of smart card technology. Through specific projects such as education programs, market research, advocacy, industry relations and open forums, the Alliance keeps its members connected to industry leaders and innovative thought. The Alliance is the single industry voice for smart cards, leading industry discussion on the impact and value of smart cards in the U.S. For more information please visit https://www.securetechalliance.org.

About the American Public Transportation Association

APTA is a nonprofit international association of more than 1,500 member organizations including public transportation systems; planning, design, construction and finance firms; product and service providers; academic institutions, and state associations and departments of transportation. APTA members serve the public interest by providing safe, efficient and economical public transportation services and products. Over ninety percent of persons using public transportation in the United States and Canada are served by APTA members. For more information please visit http://www.apta.com.