HB4098eng 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB4098 Engrossed LRB093 17668 MKM 43344 b

AN ACT concerning transportation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Regional Transportation Authority Act is amended by adding Section 2.04A as follows:

(70 ILCS 3615/2.04A new)

Sec. 2.04A. Universal fare card.

(a) In order to promote greater access and convenience for public transit riders through a seamless regional transit network, the Authority shall adopt a universal fare card and establish rules concerning its implementation and use, as federal and State funds become available. For purposes of this Section, "universal fare card" means a fare instrument that can be used seamlessly on all bus, rapid transit, commuter rail, and paratransit services for all fare structures in the Authority's service region.

(b) Upon request, the Service Boards shall expeditiously provide to the Authority any information related to the Authority's responsibilities under this Section.

(c) The Authority shall, by January 1, 2005, in conjunction with the Service Boards, issue a request for proposal inviting potential bidders to develop a plan to implement a universal fare card. The plan shall detail the specific components and costs of a universal fare card and an integrated fare management system, including the possibility of phased-in implementation, as federal and State funds become available. The plan shall assess the most cost-effective approach to extend existing infrastructure currently in use throughout the Authority's service area and the life cycle costs of operation, labor, and maintenance for a minimum of 15 years. The plan shall include, but is not limited to, the development and implementation of the following:

(1) the type, number, and design of universal fare cards using contactless smart card or other technology;

(2) the type, number, and design of smart card readers or validators that are able to process a wide variety of transit trips and fare structures including, but not limited to, inter-agency and intra-agency transfers, time-based passes, and multi-trip passes;

(3) the type, number, and design of any equipment needed to mount smart card readers or validators by: (i) retrofitting existing buses, rapid transit, or rail cars, (ii) modifying stations with barriers or gates, or (iii) installing freestanding card readers or validators at unattended stations;

(4) the type, number, and design of portable hand-held readers for use by transit operators, paratransit operators, or on-board ticket takers, as appropriate;

(5) the type, number, and design of secure self-service machines and point-of-sale terminals for purchasing or adding value to universal fare cards with cash, credit cards, and debit cards, inside or outside of transit stations, at retail outlets, and at other venues;

(6) the software and hardware technology needed to automate and decentralize participation by employers and their employees in the U.S. Transit Check program;

(7) the software and hardware technology needed to enhance customer service capabilities for purchasing or adding value or other transit fare products to universal fare cards, providing information, and other conventional and Internet-based services; and

(8) the software and hardware technology needed for a central automated clearinghouse that processes all fare transactions and settles payments on a daily basis among the Service Boards and that also provides to each Service Board data relative to passenger ridership and transfers in order to help assess routes and schedules and to determine fare revenues for preparation of annual proposed budgets and financial plans.

(d) By January 1, 2005, the Authority shall develop a cost analysis of the fare management system in use by the Service Boards on the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly in order to enable the Authority, the Governor, and the General Assembly to compare the costs of conversion to a universal fare card and integrated fare management system with existing costs for each Service Board, including but not limited to, the following:

(1) handling the cash sale of tickets by personnel at stations, on buses, or on board commuter rail cars;

(2) counting and reconciling all cash collected;

(3) deposits of all cash collected and time delays resulting in loss of interest earned;

(4) accounting systems prepared and updated for all cash collected;

(5) security for removal and transportation of cash collected; and

(6) shrinkage due to human error or other reasons.

(e) By April 1, 2005, the Authority shall compile all information derived from subsections (c) and (d) into a report and submit the report to the General Assembly and the Governor.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.