MTA electronic fare system shows new glitch
Today is Day No. 2 of the Maryland Transit Administration's full-fledge venture into the brave new world of electronic fare collection -- and as far as this occasional rider is concerned the results have been mixed.
One day after my SmartTrip card -- the Washington Metro card that's now supposed to be interchangeable with Baltimore' CharmCard -- was rejected at the Lexington Market Metro Station, it failed to work again today at the North Linthicum light rail station.
When I touched the card to the screen on the ticket vending machine, up came the same old light rail ticket menu giving the option of cash or credit card. It did not seem to want to debit a round-trip fare.
After puzzling it over a bit, I heard a train come chugging into the station. I would have made a credit card purchase, but that would have caused me too miss the train and be late for an appointment. (The immutable law of light rail seems to be that the train always comes into the station just as you're fumbling with the ticket machine.)
I must admit that rather than be late for an event, I jumped on the train without having my payment accepted -- figuring that if a fare inspector came by I would explain the failure of the system to read my SmartTrip card. Perhaps fortunately, no inspector came by before I got off at Camden Yards.
Once there, I tried again at the ticket machine there and the screen gave me the option of activating my card, which I did. It then allowed me to purchase a one-way ticket, but didn't give the option of a round-trip or a day pass.
So, MTA, I'm keeping the $1.60 I saved. You want your money, put in a system that lives up to its billing. I'm just hoping that it recognizes the full-fare paperless ticket I bought when I go home tonight.
Now there is the possibility that through my own ineptness, I failed to follow the proper procedures for using the card. But if that's the case, the MTA is guilty of a failure to idiot-proof the system. There are a lot of us idiots out there, so a system that isn't self-explanatory is about as good as no system at all. It's not good enough that it works. It has to work before the rider misses a train.
An MTA official I spoke with afterward said the agency's inspectors will be taking a forgiving view of those who have CharmCards or SmartTrip cars that have failed to registter a payment. They certainly should -- at least untiil the bugs are ironed out.
In any case, if any MTA riders are given a hard time after a failed attempt to us the electronic fare system, please feel free to contact Getting There.
Here's a tip for MTA: Install readers right on the platform that will deduct a one-way fare automatically when the card is flashed, with no buttons to push or decisions to make. There's nothing riders of the light rail want more than to catch the train that's in the station rather than the one coming in 15 minutes.
Comments
I used my CharmCard at the same light rail stop but there is no option for purchasing a Round Trip light rail pass on the TVMs. Only options are Day Pass, 7-day, and 30-day. Ended up doing the same thing you did and bought a one-way ticket. It's a quick 5 second transaction (push button > swipe > push button > swipe) but I'd prefer to deal with that once a day by purchasing a $3.20 round trip pass rather than worry about catching the train that just pulled into the stop. Hopefully MTA will chime in on this...
Posted by: The Commuter | September 22, 2010 12:56 PM
The Charm Card should work similar to the Oyster Card in London.
When you first swipe your card you should pay 1.60. When you swipe a second time within the round-trip time frame, it should charged for a round trip. If you swipe a third time you should be charged for a day pass.
Simple ehh?
Posted by: Cullen | September 22, 2010 1:37 PM
That last option seems to be the best idea, but I remember reading somewhere that MTA had no plans for doing that for the Charm Card.
Maybe they'll rethink this in the future?
Posted by: Chris | September 22, 2010 2:31 PM
Round trip passes are stupid. They should all be day passes. What's the price difference, like 30 cents? And, yes, Mr. Dresser, you sound like you are an idiot. TVMs are very simple to use.
COMMENT: As I said, an effective payment system has to be idiot-proof or it will exclude a lot of riders. Actually, I agree on day passes. They should be made equal to the cost of two rides after the next round of fare increases.
Posted by: rob | September 22, 2010 3:08 PM
I just purchased my CharmCard at the Charles Center Metro station. I purchased a one-way fare at the University Center/Baltimore Street stop, but when the fare inspector checked my card on the train it didn't show up. I just registered my card online and I can see it deducted the $1.60 from my card for the fare. Luckily, the inspector let me slide.
Posted by: Jimmy | September 22, 2010 3:37 PM
Actually, the round trip cost is CURRENTLY the same as 2 round trip tickets. It's actually nicer to NOT have the round trip functionality as it expires after 3 hours.
Posted by: Joe Smith | September 23, 2010 9:09 AM
Dublin's LUAS (light rail) uses slim cylindrical stainless steel pedestals, right on the platform, for riders to touch with their fare cards, once before boarding, and again after alighting (because their fare system is based on distance ridden). At first I thought they were cigarette-disposal devices, but there are no holes, no buttons, nothing to do but wave the card at it.
Posted by: Steve S. | September 23, 2010 5:12 PM
Fare increase?? I hope they don't follow what's been done with toll roads and parking meters. Once you go electronic, the fees/charges start going up every time you turn your head. Anyone know how much it has cost to put in Charmcard and how much it will cost to keep it running? Most bus riders can swipe the regular ticket nearly as fast as a smartcard reader, or can show it to the driver even faster than a card. And as you saw, the lack of any proof of payment will cause problems. Once people realize they won't get hassled as long as they show a Charmcard, you can guess the outcome.. You might as well just make light rail free for everyone.
Posted by: James | September 24, 2010 2:15 AM