Telecom Lead Europe: VeriFone Systems has won an $8.5 million contract from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York to install and service its open-architecture vehicle tracking TransitPAY system on more than 1,000 buses serving the Bronx.
The company signed the contract in September and installations were completed in October.
In 2011, VeriFone signed a similar contract from the Staten Island fleet component of the MTA Bus Time system. MTA Bus Time uses VeriFone on-board systems to generate location data that is communicated wirelessly to the Bus Time server that passengers can access for real-time information.
MTA Bus Time is now available for all buses in Staten Island, the Bronx, the B61 and B63 in Brooklyn and the M34 and M100 in Manhattan.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, MTA Bus Time was up and running for New York City passengers with mobile or Internet access even as other modes of travel had yet to be fully restored.
“We have integrated control units, wireless modems and GPS tracking for improved fleet management with integrated solutions that are ready for automated payments capabilities such as NFC and EMV,” said Jennifer Miles, VeriFone executive vice president, North America.
The TransitPAY solution from VeriFone enables bus tracking via real-time information, with the added benefit of supporting future fare payment applications across a common “open standards” hardware platform. TransitPAY provides real-time bus location details communicated wirelessly to an MTA-hosted server. Bus route details are shared with riders via SMS text message and website updates to alert riders of next bus arrival time.
VeriFone’s TransitPAY is a rugged, reliable and secure solution that can transform the passenger experience and can integrate NFC smartphone-based payments and contactless smart cards. VeriFone has deployed transportation systems around the world, from Istanbul to New York City taxis, and supports both EMV and non-EMV bank-issued cards as well as closed-loop cards, such as MiFare cards.
