New York-area transit launches PayPass program

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH), New Jersey Transit, and MasterCard Worldwide announced Tuesday the launch of a six-month pilot program in which MasterCard PayPass will be accepted for fare payments on select train and busroutes throughout New York City and New Jersey. The goal is to enable riders ofthe three transit systems to purchase fares and transfer between transit systems simply by tapping a single type of contactless credit or debit card or device. 

The trial, which began Monday and runs through November 30, 2010, is the first payment system to link the transit agencies, MasterCard said. Prior to this, riders on both PATH and MTA New York City Transit could use MetroCard fare media; NJ Transit does not accept that option.

The trial is limited to only portions of the service area. Some bus and train routes across New York City and New Jersey will be participating in the trial, including subway locations on the Lexington Avenue train line (4,5,6) from 138th Street in theBronx through Borough Hall in Brooklyn, eight MTA bus routes (M14, M23, M79 ,M86, M101, M102, M103, and BXM7), 11 PATH stations (excluding only the Christopher and 9th Street stations), and three NJ Transit bus routes (6, 80, and 87).

Specially-equipped payment readers featuring the MasterCard PayPass brand mark and universalcontactless symbol have been installed on select turnstiles and fare boxes along these routes to alert commuters that contactless payments are accepted.