NJ Transit took the first step toward letting riders pay bus fares by tapping a card instead of fumbling with cash, a paper ticket or activating one on a smartphone.

The agency is starting a pilot program on six Morris County bus routes to test readers that would allow riders to scan paper tickets or a mobile ticket displayed on a smartphone to pay their fare. Ultimately, the system would allow commuters to tap a card like they’re buying a coffee at Starbucks to pay for bus fare.

Officials said this is a step toward starting a fare collection system for the agency, similar to the tap and go system that New York’s MTA rolled out on select subway lines and bus routes last week. However the MTA’s action was a cannonball into the pool, compared to NJ Transit’s cautious testing of the waters.

The MTA started testing the beginning of a contactless payment system on all Staten Island MTA buses and at all subway station entrances on the 4, 5 and 6 subway lines between Grand Central-42 St and Atlantic Ave-Barclays Center. That system will eventually replace the MetroCard with an OMNY card and is expected to be completed in 2023.

The step announced by NJ Transit officials Wednesday, is part of a larger $114 million contract NJ Transit approved with Conduent Transport Solutions in December 2017 to develop a fare collection system that would include eventually developing NJ Transit’s own fare card. The MTA is using a different contractor.

So far, NJ Transit has tested scanners on AccessLink senior citizen and disabled passenger transit system vehicles since May. Rail conductors have also been testing handheld ticket scanners on trains.

Conduent, based in Florham Park, has to install more than 2,500 readers on buses and on light rail platforms that will accept contactless fare cards, mobile payments and ticket barcodes. The contractor also has to upgrade NJ Transit’s ticket vending machines and the MyTix feature of the smartphone app.

“We anticipate this technology will set the stage for the future use of new fare cards as well as open contactless payments through credit and debit cards, giving our customers more flexibility and convenience when paying exact fares,” said Kevin Corbett, NJ Transit Executive Director in a statement. “This is a very exciting development for bus customers.”

Conduent also operates the E-ZPass toll collection system for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. The same contractor operates the cashless toll system on the new Tappan Zee bridge in New York. That system had a rough start and problems led to a fine amnesty and some New York Assemblymen calling for the state to cancel the contract in July 2018.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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