Calgary Transit hopes to introduce credit card payment for transit users by next year

CALGARY – Calgary Transit is still exploring how they can expand ways Calgarians pay for their service.

Currently, transit users can only pay for a ticket using cash or by purchasing a transit pass.

The City is looking at offering an electronic fare system which will allow customers to use online banking, credit and debit cards to pay for a ride. The idea of a smart card that can be “loaded” with a dollar value and scanned was also suggested.

Implementation for the new service isn’t expected until 2012, however, Calgary Transit is trying to offer a service that will accept credit cards by next year.

A report that went to the land use, planning and transportation committee in mid-June said 80 per cent of riders currently use prepaid fares to ride the bus or LRT, with more than half of customers opting for monthly passes. Eleven per cent pay for each ride using cash.

The new electronic fare system will cost $7-million and will be paid for by the federal Build Canada fund.