CTrain and bus riders may be able to pay for their fare via smartphone by the end of 2018.

A team at the City of Calgary is busy working on a new mobile ticketing system.

Council recommended in March of last year that Calgary Transit start using electronic fares, estimating it would cost $5.5-million to implement and $2.4 million to maintain annually.

It comes after two failed attempts in 2010 and 2012 to put in place a smart card system.

The new system will still need the green light from councillors.