The first report, “Planning for New Fare Payment and Collection Systems: Cost Considerations and Procurement Guidelines,” presents a conventional approach for planning, conducting a cost analysis, and procuring a new fare payment system or upgrading an existing system.

It also provides a Microsoft Excel-based cost model that allows users to input an agency’s current fare payment and fare collection costs and compare them to the costs for proposed alternative systems.

The second report, “A Guide to Prepaid Cards for Transit Agencies,” provides an overview of the prepaid card industry and the products available, including network-branded prepaid cards.

The report is intended to help agencies evaluate the feasibility and benefits of using prepaid cards as one element of a fare collection system that includes open loop payment cards.

Council members involved in the development of the reports included: ACS, A Xerox Company; Connexum Consulting, LLC; Cubic; Discover Financial Services; First Data Corporation; Giesecke & Devrient; JPMorgan Chase; MasterCard Worldwide; MTA New York City Transit; Scheidt & Bachmann; SEPTA; Thales; Utah Transit Authority; Booz Allen Hamilton; The Garback Group; Giesecke & Devrient; INSIDE Contactless; Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA).