SmartLink (smart card)

Last updated

SmartLink
SmartLink card.png
Location New York City metropolitan area
LaunchedJuly 2, 2007
Technology
Manager Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Currency USD ($364 (140 trips @ $2.60) maximum load)
Stored-value 1, 10, 20, 40 trips, 1, 7, 30 day unlimited rides
Credit expirynone
Auto rechargerefill
Unlimited userefill
Validity
Retailed
  • Stations
  • Online
  • Telephone
Variants
  • Senior SmartLink
  • SmartLink Gray (non-refillable)
Website http://pathsmartlink.info/

SmartLink is a RFID-enabled credit card-sized smartcard that is the primary fare payment method on the PATH transit system in Newark and Hudson County in New Jersey and Manhattan in New York City. It was designed to replace PATH's paper-based farecard, QuickCard, and there was plans to expand its usage throughout most transit agencies in the tri-state area. [1] The SmartLink card has been available to the public since July 2, 2007. Although the MetroCard used on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)'s transit system can also be used on the PATH, the reverse is not true for SmartLink, which cannot be used on the MTA's system.

Contents

Registration

All SmartLink cards are eligible for online registration. [2] In order to register a card, one must simply go to PATH's registration page [3] and complete a form detailing the card holder's name, the unique serial code of the SmartLink card, and address. An account holder's information can be accessed online or by calling the SmartLink hotline. [4] Money from lost cards can be transferred to a replacement card if the customer has an account; however, all replacement cards carry a $5 fee. [4]

Registration of the card also permits the holder to monitor its usage and to link the SmartLink card to a credit card in the automatic replenishment program. When the card balance drops to five trips (or five days, for riders with an unlimited pass), the SmartLink card is topped up using the credit card on the account. This program can be managed online, on the PATH website.

Sales

Pre-loaded SmartLink cards with 10 trips are available at all stations for $31.00 (10 trips at $2.60 each, plus a $5.00 card fee). However, MetroCard Vending Machines (MVMs) at all PATH stations are able to refill the SmartLink cards to a monetary amount equal to 1, 2, 4, 10, 20 and 40 trips as well as the daily or 30 day unlimited passes.

$5.00 SmartLink Cards with no trips, ready for charging at any PATH MetroCard Vending Machine, are available from vending machines at 33rd Street, Hoboken, Journal Square, Exchange Place, Newport and World Trade Center.

SmartLink card can be purchased via the SmartLinkSM Card Dispensers (33rd Street, Hoboken, Journal Square, Newark, World Trade Center). Zero trip and 20 trip cards ($57.00 (20 trips at $2.60 each, plus a $5.00 card fee) are also available for purchase online on the PATH website. At one time Pre-loaded SmartLink Cards were available at newsstands in PATH terminals but PATH has discontinued this.

Fares

When buying a SmartLink card for the first time, an additional, one-time $5 fee is levied to offset the cost of producing the card. The cards can be refilled in specified numbers of trips or by adding unlimited passes. When refilling, the regular fare structure is used and the $5 card purchase fee is not imposed. As of November 1, 2019 the following fare structure is in effect:

TripsFare [5] Cost per trip
1-trip$2.75$2.75
10-trip$26$2.60
20-trip$52$2.60
40-trip$104$2.60
Senior SmartLink†$1.25$1.25
SmartLink 1-day pass$10.50N/A
SmartLink 7-day pass$36.00N/A
SmartLink 30-day pass$110.25N/A

The maximum number of trips that can be loaded on the card is 140. An unlimited pass can be loaded on top of a regular trip SmartLink card. When that occurs, the individual rides will remain in the background of the card. When the unlimited pass expires the individual trips will be available for use.

†Discounted fares are offered to seniors 65 years or older. The disabled, military, and students are not included in PATH's reduced-fare program. [6]

Testing and roll-out

The initial testing phase was delayed several times due to software problems. It was originally intended to start in August 2006, but was postponed to October 2006. Continuing problems moved the testing phase of Senior SmartCards to February 2007.

On July 2, 2007, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) commenced the initial roll-out of the SmartLink card to the general public at the World Trade Center station. On July 23, 2007 the card was introduced at the 33rd Street station. On August 6, 2007 the card was introduced at the Hoboken station.

During the initial roll out, the cost of the card was $29 which included the 20 ride fare of $24 plus a $5 charge for the card. In February 2008 the cards were formally rolled out to the general public at all stations. In the initial stage, the SmartLink card allowed riders to place the same value on it as if they were purchasing a QuickCard by using machines located in PATH stations.

On October 24, 2008, the Port Authority announced that as of November 30, 2008, NJ Transit ticket machines on NJ Transit stations would no longer sell the QuickCard and as of December 31, 2008, NJ Transit ticket machines in PATH stations (Newark, Hoboken, Journal Square, Exchange Place, and Pavonia-Newport) would no longer sell the cards. The machines at the 33rd Street, Grove Street and WTC stations were removed in 2008. [7]

At the end of 2010, the QuickCard was discontinued and replaced with the SmartLink Gray card, a non-refillable, disposable version of the SmartLink card. This card was sold at selected newsstand vendors and was available in 10, 20 and 40 trips (at the discounted price of $2.10 per trip). Unlike the regular SmartLink cards, the SmartLink Gray cards had an expiration date.

In 2016, PATH announced that it would discontinue the sale of SmartLink Gray cards on January 31 in favor of passengers using the refillable, plastic SmartLink card. A short term exchange program was offered until February 2016 to allow passengers to swap their paper card for the plastic card without having to pay the $5.00 fee for the plastic card.

Expansion

The Port Authority, part of several transit systems in the New York-New Jersey region, is hoping that one day there will be a universal fare card for the region's transportation. However, estimates for expanding the SmartLink card to the New York City Subway and MTA buses may cost as high as $300 million. Estimates for adding New Jersey Transit would cost an additional $100 million. [8] However, the adoption of OMNY on New York City Transit will mean that SmartLink will not be expanded to other transit systems. [9]

Future

In June 2019, the Port Authority announced it was in talks with the MTA to implement OMNY on the PATH by 2022. [10] Under the presented plan, SmartLink would be phased out along with the MetroCard by 2023. [9] In November 2021, the Port Authority indicated that it would instead implement its own fare payment system, which would be similar to OMNY. Though the as-yet-unnamed fare system will accept debit and credit cards and phones for fare payment, the Port Authority did not indicate whether the fare system and OMNY would accept each other's farecards. [11] [12] The same month, officials awarded a $99.4 million contract to Cubic Transportation Systems for the installation of the new fare-payment system, which would replace SmartLink by 2024. [13] [14] The new fare payment system would be tested in a few stations in early 2023 before being installed across the network in the latter half of the year. SmartLink cards would be accepted on the new fare payment system. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PATH (rail system)</span> Rapid transit system in New Jersey and New York

The Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) is a 13.8-mile (22.2 km) rapid transit system in the northeastern New Jersey cities of Newark, Harrison, Jersey City, and Hoboken, as well as Lower and Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. PATH trains run around the clock year-round; four routes serving 13 stations operate during the daytime on weekdays, while two routes operate during weekends, late nights, and holidays. It crosses the Hudson River through cast iron tunnels that rest on the river bottom. It operates as a deep-level subway in Manhattan and the Jersey City/Hoboken riverfront; from Grove Street in Jersey City to Newark, trains run in open cuts, at grade level, and on elevated track. In 2022, the system saw 45,501,400 rides, or about 183,300 per weekday in the third quarter of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metro-North Railroad</span> Commuter rail service in New York and Connecticut

Metro-North Railroad, trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, is a suburban commuter rail service run by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), a public authority of the U.S. state of New York and under contract with the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Metro-North serves the New York Metropolitan Area, running service between New York City and its northern suburbs in New York and Connecticut, including Port Jervis, Spring Valley, Poughkeepsie, Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, White Plains, Southeast and Wassaic in New York and Stamford, New Canaan, Danbury, Bridgeport, Waterbury, and New Haven in Connecticut. Metro-North also provides local rail service within the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York City Transit Authority</span> Bus and subway service operator

The New York City Transit Authority is a public-benefit corporation in the U.S. state of New York that operates public transportation in New York City. Part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the busiest and largest transit system in North America, the NYCTA has a daily ridership of 8 million trips.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Staten Island Railway</span> Rapid transit line in New York City

The Staten Island Railway (SIR) is a rapid transit line in the New York City borough of Staten Island. It is owned by the Staten Island Rapid Transit Operating Authority (SIRTOA), a subsidiary of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and operated by the New York City Transit Authority Department of Subways. SIR operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing local service between St. George and Tottenville, along the east side of the island. There is currently only one line on the island, and there is no direct rail link between the SIR and the New York City Subway system, but SIR riders do receive a free transfer to New York City Transit bus and subway lines, and the line is included on official New York City Subway maps. Commuters on the railway typically use the Staten Island Ferry to reach Manhattan. The line is accessible from within the Ferry Terminal, and most of its trains are timed to connect with the ferry. In 2022, the system had a ridership of 3,757,700, or about 13,000 per weekday as of the third quarter of 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MetroCard</span> Public transit payment system in the New York City area

The MetroCard is a magnetic stripe card used for fare payment on transportation in the New York City area. It is a payment method for the New York City Subway, New York City Transit buses and MTA buses. The MetroCard is also accepted by several partner agencies: Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE), the PATH train system, the Roosevelt Island Tramway, AirTrain JFK, and Westchester County's Bee-Line Bus System.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hudson–Bergen Light Rail</span> Light rail system in New Jersey, United States

The Hudson–Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) is a light rail system in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Owned by New Jersey Transit (NJT) and operated by the 21st Century Rail Corporation, it connects the communities of Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City, at the city line with West New York, and North Bergen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SmarTrip</span> Contactless transit card system used in the Washington, D.C. metro area

SmarTrip is a contactless stored-value smart card payment system managed by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) uses a compatible payment system called CharmCard. A reciprocity agreement between the MTA and WMATA allows either card to be used for travel on any of the participating transit systems in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. Unlike traditional paper farecards or bus passes, SmarTrip/CharmCard is designed to be permanent and reloadable; the term "SmarTrip" may refer to both payment systems unless otherwise noted.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yikatong</span>

The Beijing Municipal Administration & Communication Card, more commonly known as the Yikatong, is a stored-value contactless smart card used in Beijing, China, for public transportation and related uses. It is similar to Hong Kong's Octopus card, Singapore's CEPAS, The OMNY Card in New York City, United States, or the Oyster Card used by Transport for London in London, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AirTrain Newark</span> Monorail system at Newark Liberty International Airport

AirTrain Newark is a 3-mile (4.8 km) monorail people mover system connecting the terminals at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and trains at Newark Liberty International Airport Station on the Northeast Corridor (NEC), where transfers are possible to Amtrak and NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor Line and North Jersey Coast Line. The monorail opened in 1996, and as of 2019, is planned to be replaced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Go-To card</span> Public transit ticketing system in Minnesota, United States

The Go-To card is a contactless smart card used to pay fares for bus, light rail, and commuter rail lines operated by Metro Transit and other transit agencies in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. The system has significantly sped up boardings on area buses while alleviating wear and tear on existing ticket machines and fare boxes. The old magnetic strip reading machines were weather sensitive and could not be placed out in the elements like at the Hiawatha Line light rail stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newark Liberty International Airport Station</span> NJ Transit and Amtrak station

Newark Liberty International Airport Station is a railroad station on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) in Newark, New Jersey. The station provides access to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) via the AirTrain monorail which connects the station to the airport's terminals and parking areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Journal Square Transportation Center</span> Transportation center in Jersey City, New Jersey

The Journal Square Transportation Center is a multi-modal transportation hub located on Magnolia Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard at Journal Square in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States. Owned and operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the complex includes a ten-story tower, a retail plaza, a bus terminal, a two-level parking facility, and the Journal Square station of the PATH rail transit system. The underground station has a high ceiling and a mezzanine level connecting the platforms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportation in New York City</span> Overview of urban transportation network

The transportation system of New York City is a network of complex infrastructural systems. New York City, being the most populous city in the United States, has a transportation system which includes one of the largest and busiest subway systems in the world; the world's first mechanically ventilated vehicular tunnel; and an aerial tramway. New York City is home to an extensive bus system in each of the five boroughs; citywide and Staten Island ferry systems; and numerous yellow taxis and boro taxis throughout the city. Private cars are less used compared to other cities in the rest of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CharlieCard</span> Public transit smart card used in Boston

The CharlieCard is a contactless smart card used for fare payment for transportation in the Boston area. It is the primary payment method for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and several regional public transport systems in the U.S. state of Massachusetts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newark–World Trade Center</span> Rapid transit service in New Jersey and New York City

Newark–World Trade Center is a rapid transit service operated by the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH). It is colored red on the PATH service map and trains on this service display red marker lights. This service operates from Pennsylvania Station in Newark, New Jersey, by way of the Downtown Hudson Tubes to the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, New York City, New York. Operating 24 hours a day, the 8.9-mile (14.3 km) trip takes 22+1⁄2 minutes to complete.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York City transit fares</span>

The fares for services operated under the brands of MTA Regional Bus, New York City Subway, Staten Island Railway (SIR), PATH, Roosevelt Island Tramway, AirTrain JFK, NYC Ferry, and the suburban bus operators Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE) and Westchester County Bee-Line System (Bee-Line) are listed below.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transit pass</span> Transit ticket for multiple trips

A transit pass or travel card, often referred to as a bus pass or train pass etc., is a ticket that allows a passenger of the service to take either a certain number of pre-purchased trips or unlimited trips within a fixed period of time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mass Transit Super Bowl</span> Transportation plan for the 2014 Super Bowl

The Mass Transit Super Bowl was a public transportation plan and marketing strategy conceived for Super Bowl XLVIII and Super Bowl Week, a series of events leading up to the February 2, 2014, football game between the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks. It was originally projected that over 400,000 people would come to the New York–New Jersey region for the game and related activities, and that over 80,000 would attend the game itself; actual patronage of the metropolitan area during that time was projected to be over 500,000. Metropolitan area transit agencies worked with the National Football League, organizers of the event, and developed special services, schedules, fares, and maps to promote the use of mass transit during the week, which began with the arrival of teams on January 26.

OMNY is a contactless fare payment system, currently being implemented for use on public transit in the New York metropolitan area. OMNY can currently be used to pay fares at all New York City Subway and Staten Island Railway stations, on all MTA buses, AirTrain JFK, and on the Roosevelt Island Tram; when completely rolled out, it will also replace the MetroCard on Bee-Line buses, and NICE buses. OMNY will also expand beyond the current scope of the MetroCard to include the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">S59 and S89 buses</span> Bus routes in New York and New Jersey

The S59 and S89 constitute a public transit line in the U.S. states of New York and New Jersey. The S59 runs wholly in New York City, between Port Richmond and either Eltingville or Tottenville in Staten Island, largely running on Richmond Avenue. The S89 makes limited stops along Richmond Avenue, running from Bayonne, New Jersey, to Eltingville, Staten Island, New York. They are both based out of the Yukon Depot.

References

  1. ↑ Dickstein, Max (February 21, 2006). "New PATH Train Fare Card May Someday Replace MetroCard". The Columbia Journalist. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
  2. ↑ "SmartLink brochure" (PDF). PATH. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 7, 2007. Retrieved December 29, 2007.
  3. ↑ "Full fare card registration". PATH. Archived from the original on October 27, 2007. Retrieved December 29, 2007.
  4. 1 2 "SmartLink frequently asked questions". PATH. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  5. ↑ http://www.panynj.gov/path/fares.html Path fares
  6. ↑ https://www.pathsmartlinkcard.com/faq.html#2 Discounts for the disabled, military, or students
  7. ↑ "The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey - Press Release". Archived from the original on November 16, 2008. Retrieved November 6, 2008.
  8. ↑ McGeehan, Patrick (February 21, 2006). "New at PATH Stations: Wave, Don't Swipe". The New York Times . Retrieved July 4, 2007.
  9. 1 2 "PATH Implementation Plan" (PDF). PANYNJ. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  10. ↑ Guse, Clayton (June 20, 2019). "New Jersey's PATH to get the MTA's new tap-and-pay system". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  11. ↑ Duggan, Kevin (November 15, 2021). "PATH trains to get OMNY-like tap-and-go fare payment in 2023". amNewYork. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
  12. ↑ Higgs, Larry (November 15, 2021). "PATH riders will be able to pay fares with a card or phone tap, just like in N.Y." nj. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  13. ↑ Higgs, Larry (November 19, 2021). "New tap-and-go fare payment coming to PATH by 2024". nj. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
  14. 1 2 Wanek-Libman, Mischa (January 12, 2022). "PATH readies its next generation fare collection system with Cubic contract". Mass Transit Magazine. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.