Revenue management/fare collection systems are often the single system that involves every mode of service offered by a transit agency. LTK’s experience with these critical customer systems began in 1968 with the first public transit system in North America to employ unmanned stations and a self-service revenue management system — the PATCO High-Speed Line. Since that initial ground-breaking fare collection assignment, our staff has been called upon by numerous clients for support with development of automated fare collection (AFC) and revenue systems. LTK continues to be selected to develop solutions for both new and expanding operations. We have provided AFC support to nearly all public transportation modes, including local and express bus, bus rapid transit, trolley, street car, light rail transit, commuter rail, heavy rail rapid transit, monorail, and ferry boat.
Be it a farebox, fare vending machine, fare gate or central data system, addressing the AFC needs for this wide range of public transportation modes gives LTK unparalleled experience to understand and satisfy requirements. Based on years of first-hand experience, we have recommended fare strategies and solutions for both single and multi-modal operating requirements that successfully address all required revenue collection and accounting methods. For existing systems, our work often reflects requirements to integrate with legacy systems.
LTK’s Revenue Management/Fare Collection staff, many with experience as both consultants and transit fare system operators, provides a wide range of services that are designed to ensure that transit customers can easily and conveniently pay for their travel while the system can also operate at optimum efficiency. The fare systems consulting services we provide include:
- Studies, Alternatives Analyses, and Needs Assessments,
- Policy Review and Recommendations,
- System Technology Recommendations,
- Smart Fare Media System Design and Development,
- Specification and Contract Documents,
- Cost Estimates,
- Procurement, Design and Implementation Support,
- Implementation and Testing Plans,
- Media Distribution Strategy Development,
- On-Vehicle Systems Integration,
- Electronic and Contactless Payment Implementation,
- Operations and Maintenance Plans, and
- Revenue Operations and Data Security Audits.