Pittsburgh’s contactless smart card fare system back on track

The Port Authority of Allegheny County is moving ahead with Pittsburgh’s new contactless smart card transit system after fixing a glitch with fare boxes on buses.

The rollout stalled last year when buses at the Collier Garage had recurring issues with dollar bills jamming in the new fare boxes. Project manager Tim Bach says that the Collier issue is now resolved, and the Port Authority is looking to install readers at the East Liberty and West Mifflin garages by the end of March.

The Port Authority will then move on to upgrading rail vehicle fare boxes in mid-April, and by July commuters will have a contactless ConnectCard in hand.

A full launch of the new system is set for March 2012.

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