EASY Card (South Florida)
Encyclopedia
The EASY Card system is a series of linked contactless smartcard systems used by Miami-Dade Transit
and South Florida Regional Transportation Authority
in the South Florida
, Florida
, United States
area. The EASY Card allows for electronic payment
on multiple public transport
systems including Miami Metrorail, rapid transit
rail system; Tri-Rail
, commuter rail system; and Metrobus. Other public transportation agencies in the South Florida area which may eventually join the system include Broward County Transit
as well as Palm Tran
.
While both the Miami-Dade Transit as well as the SFRTA fare collection systems were installed by Cubic Transportation Systems, combined they are the first multiple agency regional system in the United States that interoperates through the American Public Transportation Association's
Contactless Fare Media Standard.
In addition to the above, SFRTA uses their EASY Card ticket machines to print out purely paper tickets that lack any smartcard media for same-day and/or weekend usage. If a paper ticket user wishes to transfer to Metrorail, they must obtain an EASY Ticket from a ticket agent at the Tri-Rail and Metrorail transfer station
.
While Miami-Dade Transit ticket machines will provide both EASY Cards as well as EASY Tickets, SFRTA/Tri-Rail ticket machines will provide only EASY Cards. Ticket agents at attended Tri-Rail stations will be able to provide EASY Tickets.
An EASY card or ticket purchased from any participating agency may be used on any participating system, provided it is loaded with the proper fare or has a sufficient cash balance.
Metrobus users only have to tap their EASY Card or EASY Ticket once when boarding a bus. Metrorail users have to tap their card or ticket when entering the faregates for a Metrorail station, as well as when leaving them. Tri-Rail users have to tap their card or ticket on ticket validators found at every Tri-Rail station platform prior to entering and after exiting a train.
Systems which require entry and exit taps must see the exit tap of a card in order to issue a transfer. Transfer discounts within Miami-Dade Transit as well as from Tri-Rail to Miami-Dade Transit are only available when an EASY card or ticket is used to pay the fare both on the system/vehicle being transferred to, as well as the one previously used.
Miami-Dade Transit
Miami-Dade Transit is the primary public transit authority of Miami, Florida, United States and the greater Miami-Dade County area. It is the largest transit system in Florida and the 12th-largest transit system in the United States....
and South Florida Regional Transportation Authority
South Florida Regional Transportation Authority
The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority is a tri-county public transit authority operating out of Pompano Beach, Florida, serving Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. The organization was created on July 1, 2003 by the Florida Legislature and enacted by the Florida Department...
in the South Florida
South Florida metropolitan area
The South Florida metropolitan area, also known as the Miami metropolitan area, and designated the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–Pompano Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area by the U.S...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
area. The EASY Card allows for electronic payment
Electronic money
Electronic money is money or scrip that is only exchanged electronically. Typically, this involves the use of computer networks, the internet and digital stored value systems...
on multiple public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
systems including Miami Metrorail, rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
rail system; Tri-Rail
Tri-Rail
Tri-Rail is a commuter rail line linking Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, Florida, United States. It is run by the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority. The system has 18 stations along the South Florida coast...
, commuter rail system; and Metrobus. Other public transportation agencies in the South Florida area which may eventually join the system include Broward County Transit
Broward County Transit
Broward County Transit is the public transit authority in Broward County, Florida. It is the second largest transit system in Florida. It currently operates the only public bus system in Broward County...
as well as Palm Tran
Palm Tran
Palm Tran is a bus system run by the Palm Beach County Government, serving Palm Beach County, Florida. Standard one-way fare is $1.50 . For $3.55 an unlimited all-day pass . There are no free transfers except to Tri-Rail or Broward County Transit...
.
While both the Miami-Dade Transit as well as the SFRTA fare collection systems were installed by Cubic Transportation Systems, combined they are the first multiple agency regional system in the United States that interoperates through the American Public Transportation Association's
American Public Transportation Association
The American Public Transportation Association is a non-profit organization which serves as an advocate for the advancement of public transportation programs and initiatives in the United States. Since its founding in 1882, APTA has educated the public about the benefits of public transportation...
Contactless Fare Media Standard.
Media Formats
While the system as a whole is referred to as the "EASY Card" system, there actually is more than one type of contactless smartcard media in use:- "EASY Cards" are plastic smartcards designed to last at least three years. EASY Cards may be used to store more than one type of fare at the same time, and can be registered with the issuing transportation agency to obtain a replacement if lost or stolen. EASY Cards programmed to permit discounted fare rates are supplied to eligible users by both Miami-Dade Transit and SFRTA.
- "EASY Tickets" are paper-based smartcard media designed to last up to 60 days. They may only store the original fare type first loaded onto them, cannot be used for discounted fare rates, and cannot be registered in case of loss or theft.
In addition to the above, SFRTA uses their EASY Card ticket machines to print out purely paper tickets that lack any smartcard media for same-day and/or weekend usage. If a paper ticket user wishes to transfer to Metrorail, they must obtain an EASY Ticket from a ticket agent at the Tri-Rail and Metrorail transfer station
Tri-Rail and Metrorail transfer station
Tri-Rail and Metrorail Transfer Station is a Metrorail and Tri-Rail interchange station in Hialeah, Florida, in metropolitan Miami.This station is located near the intersection of East 25th Street and 11th Avenue, officially opening to service March 6, 1989. The station was built as a connection...
.
While Miami-Dade Transit ticket machines will provide both EASY Cards as well as EASY Tickets, SFRTA/Tri-Rail ticket machines will provide only EASY Cards. Ticket agents at attended Tri-Rail stations will be able to provide EASY Tickets.
Usable Systems
EASY Cards as well as related smartcard media can be used on the following systems:- Metrobus (Miami-Dade Transit)
- MetrorailMetrorail (Miami)The Miami Metrorail, officially Metrorail and commonly called the Metro, is the heavy rail rapid transit system of Miami, Florida, United States, serving the Miami metropolitan area. The Metro is operated by Miami-Dade Transit, a departmental agency of Miami-Dade County...
(Miami-Dade Transit) - Tri-RailTri-RailTri-Rail is a commuter rail line linking Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach, Florida, United States. It is run by the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority. The system has 18 stations along the South Florida coast...
(SFRTA) - City of Hialeah Transit (HialeahHialeah, FloridaHialeah is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 226,419. As of 2009, the population estimate by the U. S...
) - Conchita Transit Express (private JitneyShare taxiA share taxi is a mode of transport that falls between taxis and conventional buses. These informal vehicles for hire are found throughout the world. They are smaller than buses, and usually take passengers on a fixed or semi-fixed route without timetables, usually leaving when all seats are filled...
service)
An EASY card or ticket purchased from any participating agency may be used on any participating system, provided it is loaded with the proper fare or has a sufficient cash balance.
Metrobus users only have to tap their EASY Card or EASY Ticket once when boarding a bus. Metrorail users have to tap their card or ticket when entering the faregates for a Metrorail station, as well as when leaving them. Tri-Rail users have to tap their card or ticket on ticket validators found at every Tri-Rail station platform prior to entering and after exiting a train.
Systems which require entry and exit taps must see the exit tap of a card in order to issue a transfer. Transfer discounts within Miami-Dade Transit as well as from Tri-Rail to Miami-Dade Transit are only available when an EASY card or ticket is used to pay the fare both on the system/vehicle being transferred to, as well as the one previously used.