1. Central Puget Sound Regional Fare Coordination System
Cheryl Huston
Regional Program Administrator Seattle, WA
March 18, 2013

2. Agenda Governance Goals Overview Conversion Benefits Lessons learned
What’s next?
ORCA
gets you moving

3. RFCS Agencies
To implement a common “seamless” fare collection system – using smart card technology – for bus, rail and ferry travel in the Central Puget Sound region.

4. Seven Governing Boards Seven Operating Agencies
RFCS Organization
Seven Governing Boards
Joint Board
Fiscal Agent
Operations
Manager
Regional Program
Administrator
Regional
Services
Contract
Admin
System
Operations
Program
Admin
Policy
Development
Public
Information
Seven Operating Agencies

5. RFCS Goals One regional card for all
Replace paper passes, tickets & tokens
Regional fare integration
Support and expand business accounts
Public acceptance
Customer satisfaction
Revenue and ridership data

6. Overview Five independent transit agencies
Agency-specific passes and paper transfers
Limited agreements for inter-agency media
Prior to smart card development:
Regional Fare Coordination program
Regional “PugetPass”
Interagency transfer acceptance

7. System Design and Testing
Overview
Feasibility Study
Operating Concept
Full System Acceptance
RFP Development
System Design and Testing
System Updates
PLANNING & PROCUREMENT DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION OPERATIONS
Prototype
Demonstration
Evaluation & Contract Finalization
Beta Test
2006
Go Live
4/2009
Proposals Received

8. Conversion Limited distribution of no fee ORCA cards
Unlimited exchange for eligible Senior or Disabled riders
2 hour transfer
Website launched
Street teams
Marketing campaign
Public acceptance

9. Conversion Limited ORCA rollout - 4/2009 Big Splash - 9/2009
Full System Acceptance -12/2011
Total sales - $172 million
Cards issued million
Average weekday boardings – 350,000
Percent of total boardings – 63%

10. Benefits Simplifies transfers Faster, easier boardings
Accurate ridership data
Daily regional revenue reconciliation
Reduced types of fare media
Reduced cost of fare media production
Reduced staff resources to sell fare media
Increased customer benefits

11. Lessons learned Interagency operations and governance
Scale of change for agencies and customers
Card management
Vendor resources
System security
Data privacy
Underserved markets
Websites

12. What’s next? Special accounts Retail card sales Website redesign
Reaching new or underserved markets
New payment options
Evolving technology
Strategic planning

13. Questions? Thank you Cheryl Huston ORCA Regional Program Administrator
orcacard.com