Should the Metrocard Get Smart?
What with fare hikes, token booth closings, and the crazy budget gap looming, the MTA is MTA is considering bringing smart cards to our subways and buses. Gothamist liked how the area newspapers tried to make it easier for people to understand what smart cards were by comparing them to E-Z Pass or Mobil Speedpass – cards with a microchip that stores information. The upside of Smart Card is that it would take one sixth of the time to go through turnstiles and pass bus fareboxes. Smart Cards also require less maintenance, and even though the set-up expenses are high. Also, Smart Cards last longer (up to five years, versus the MetroCards which expire or are invalid, depending on what kind of MetroCards you get). Newsday reports that the MTA put aside almost $44 million towards the testing out Smart Cards, though some worry the “tepid support” around the effort might make doom the project. Gothamist hopes that we can use Smart Cards one day, because swiping through the turnstile and not re
