The Pittsburgh Port Authority is looking to launch a fully functional transit card system by the end of 2010. The new system would enable regular users of Pittsburgh public transportation to carry a single contactless smart card good for travel on buses and other transit vehicles.

Instead of having to carry small change or expiring paper transit passes, riders will simply have to wave their contactless cards in front of special readers when boarding. The fares will be deducted from the cards automatically, and riders can conveniently add funds to their cards online. Along with paying for transit rides, the city also hopes to integrate the smart card system with bike rentals at 70 bike-sharing stations, as well as parking fees.
For now the plan is to test the contactless smart card transit system in the summer of 2010, and then make the cards available to riders next winter.
Read more about public transit cards…