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By Ellie Ritter, contributor

Beginning July 10, MARTA will stop accepting the old standard blue Breeze cards, instead switching over to silver Breeze cards that offer new security measures.

The new silver cards, which can be purchased for $2, help combat fraud and abuse, the release said, which is an issue MARTA has dealt with before. They also have stronger chip technology to prevent hacking and have been available since early 2016.

“Although we first introduced our new cards in January of last year, we still have a few remaining customers who haven’t fully converted to our new silver Breeze cards,” MARTA GM/CEO Keith Parker said in a press release. “We want to encourage everyone to upgrade to the silver Breeze card to help minimize any confusion on July 10.”

Unexpired balances from old cards must have been transferred by July 9, or all balances will be forfeited.

Despite the potential hassle, MARTA says the new cards are safer.

“We are pleased to offer this heightened technology that reflects current industry standards,” MARTA Chief Information Officer Ming Hsi said. “A more secure card decreases the likelihood of fraud or other abuse that can be detrimental to our customers.”

Additionally, the silver Breeze cards will be compatible with the other local and regional transit systems including CobbLinc, the Georgia Regional Transit Authority (GRTA), Gwinnett County Transit (GCT) and the Atlanta Streetcar.

The silver Breeze cards can be purchased at MARTA RideStores, online at breezecard.com, or at any Breeze vending machine located at all 38 rail stations.