The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, after receiving several bids for its new contactless fare system, is expected to award the contract by next spring. Both Cubic, San Diego, Calif. and Affiliated Computer Services, Dallas, Tex. are among the bidders.

SEPTA, which is seeking federal funds to help pay for the $100 million system, also urged bidders to include innovative ways to help finance it, such as possible public/private partnerships. If stimulus dollars don’t materialize, funding could be a major issue.

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