Post: "Metro officials find obstacles embedded in SmarTrip plan"

[Scrabbleship]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/16/AR2010091606462.html?hpid=newswell

More news on how cutting the Smartrip price in half could do more harm than good, especially the (unfounded) rumors that people will buy a Smartrip, ride into the red, then ditch the card a la a Metrocard. Also in the article is this nugget about how the Smartrip supply may very well be finite.

"Worsening the problem, the company that makes SmarTrip cards is discontinuing them, Metro officials said. Metro has purchased an estimated two-year inventory, but that could dwindle rapidly if customers purchased the cards in higher numbers.

Metro officials said they would have to switch to a new technology for SmarTrip cards in the future but provided no details.

"This is the only company that makes these cards. This chip and card will no longer be available," board Chairman Peter Benjamin said. In the meantime, "you have to watch what you do or you will end up with no cards."

Imagine the outcry if Metro ran out of Smartrip cards especially how they've pretty much been hostile to nobody who has one. I know that "proactive" is a profane word in Metro's vocabulary, but something has to be done and they should be looking for ways to put a upgraded Smartrip card into service ASAP to kill any shortage. Heck, do Smartrip swaps when a upgraded card is available and sell the old ones to those who have limited financial means. Win-win for all involved.

[79MetroExtraMD]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/16/AR2010091606462.html?hpid=newswell

More news on how cutting the Smartrip price in half could do more harm than good, especially the (unfounded) rumors that people will buy a Smartrip, ride into the red, then ditch the card a la a Metrocard. Also in the article is this nugget about how the Smartrip supply may very well be finite.

"Worsening the problem, the company that makes SmarTrip cards is discontinuing them, Metro officials said. Metro has purchased an estimated two-year inventory, but that could dwindle rapidly if customers purchased the cards in higher numbers.

Metro officials said they would have to switch to a new technology for SmarTrip cards in the future but provided no details.

"This is the only company that makes these cards. This chip and card will no longer be available," board Chairman Peter Benjamin said. In the meantime, "you have to watch what you do or you will end up with no cards."

Imagine the outcry if Metro ran out of Smartrip cards especially how they've pretty much been hostile to nobody who has one. I know that "proactive" is a profane word in Metro's vocabulary, but something has to be done and they should be looking for ways to put a upgraded Smartrip card into service ASAP to kill any shortage. Heck, do Smartrip swaps when a upgraded card is available and sell the old ones to those who have limited financial means. Win-win for all involved.

There are other companies that make smart cards. Also, this would also affect MTA since CharmCard is the same card from the manufacturer.

[WayneNYC]

I think the issue of people getting negative balances and tossing the card is a legitimate concern.  While having the option to go into the red may come in handy for many people, I'd have to agree with those who want to phase out this feature.  Perhaps, it could be available by doing something like E-Z Pass where you can link the card to a credit card to replenish the funds.  Again, I don't take issue with WMATA taking away this feature, but I think they should announced it earlier. 

[SchuminWeb]

What gets me is the fact that the company's discontinuation of the cards is an against-the-wall issue.  When your whole transit system is designed on these cards, being able to restart production for a large order would seem to make sense.  In other words, when Metro runs low on their current supply, the company should be able to put the card back into production for a (let's say) 200,000 card order.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Maybe they need to do what I saw in Rio de Janeiro.  There, even single ride cards are on smart cards but to enter the system, you have to touch your card to the target, and then drop it in a slot in the machine before it will open the gate.  I assume the card is then recycled back into the system.  Perhaps machines could be designed/installed at stations that could be used to return cars.  I think in London, if you return your Oyster, you even get the cost of the card back.

What gets me is the fact that the company's discontinuation of the cards is an against-the-wall issue.  When your whole transit system is designed on these cards, being able to restart production for a large order would seem to make sense.  In other words, when Metro runs low on their current supply, the company should be able to put the card back into production for a (let's say) 200,000 card order.

The issue seems to be that because WMATA was among the first, if not the first system to use this sort of system and technology, the technology has advanced to the point where what WMATA is using isn't feasible to keep restocking and resupplying.  While it seems logical that the card supplier could continue offering the first generation card for WMATA, it seems they don't want to for some reason.

[Tristan]

It would theoretically be possible for IBM and Lexmark to bring back the dot matrix printer, but ... does it make sense?  Where do you draw the line?  Anyone want to buy a new copy of Windows 3.1?