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SmartLink (smart card)
Encyclopedia
SmartLink is a Radio Frequency Identification Chip-enabled credit card-sized smartcard that can be used as a fare payment method on the PATH
transit system in Newark
and Hudson County in New Jersey
and Manhattan
in New York City
. It was designed to replace PATH's paper-based farecard, QuickCard, and there are plans to expand its usage throughout most transit agencies in the tri-state area. The SmartLink card has been available to the public since July 2, 2007.
Registration of the card also permits the holder to monitor its usage and to link the SmartLink card to a credit card in the automatic replenishment program. When the card balance drops to five trips (or five days, for riders with an unlimited pass), the SmartLink card is topped up using the credit card on the account. This program can be managed online, on the PATH website.
$5.00 SmartLink Cards with 0 trips, ready for charging at any PATH vending machine, are available from vending machines at selected stations (33rd Street, Hoboken, Journal Square, Exchange Place, Newport and World Trade Center).
Pre-loaded SmartLInk Cards are available for $35.00 (20 trips @$1.50 plus a $5.00 card fee) at newsstands in PATH terminals (33rd St, Hoboken, Journal Square, Newark, World Trade Center).
Cards are also available for purchase online on the PATH website or pathsmartlinkcard.com
The maximum number of trips that can be loaded on the card is 140. An unlimited pass can be loaded on top of a regular trip SmartLink card. When that occurs, the individual rides will remain in the background of the card. When the unlimited pass expires the individual trips will be available for use.
On July 2, 2007, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
(PANYNJ) commenced the initial roll-out of the SmartLink card to the general public at the World Trade Center station. On July 23, 2007 the card was introduced at the 33rd Street station. On August 6, 2007 the card was introduced at the Hoboken station.
During the initial roll out, the cost of the card was $29 which included the 20 ride fare of $24 plus a $5 charge for the card. In February 2008 the cards were formally rolled out to the general public at all stations. In the initial stage, the SmartLink card allowed riders to place the same value on it as if they were purchasing a QuickCard by using machines located in PATH stations.
At the end of 2010, the QuickCard was discontinued and replaced with the SmartLink Gray card which is a non-refillable, disposable version of the SmartLink card. This card is sold at selected newsstand vendors and is available in 10, 20 and 40 trips (at the discounted price of $1.30 per trip). Unlike the regular SmartLink cards, the SmartLink Gray cards will have an expiration date.
and buses may cost as high as $300 million. Estimates for adding New Jersey Transit
would cost an additional $100 million.
Port Authority Trans-Hudson
PATH, derived from Port Authority Trans-Hudson, is a rapid transit railroad linking Manhattan, New York City with Newark, Harrison, Hoboken and Jersey City in metropolitan northern New Jersey...
transit system in Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
and Hudson County in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It was designed to replace PATH's paper-based farecard, QuickCard, and there are plans to expand its usage throughout most transit agencies in the tri-state area. The SmartLink card has been available to the public since July 2, 2007.
Registration
All SmartLink cards are eligible for online registration. In order to register a card, one must simply go to PATH's registration page and complete a form detailing the card holder's name, the unique serial code of the SmartLink card, and address. An account holder's information can be accessed online or by calling the SmartLink hotline. Money from lost cards can be transferred to a replacement card if the customer has an account; however, all replacement cards carry a $5 fee.Registration of the card also permits the holder to monitor its usage and to link the SmartLink card to a credit card in the automatic replenishment program. When the card balance drops to five trips (or five days, for riders with an unlimited pass), the SmartLink card is topped up using the credit card on the account. This program can be managed online, on the PATH website.
Sales
Pre-loaded SmartLink cards are available in 10 trip at all stations for $20.00 (10 trips $1.50 plus a $5.00 card fee. However, vending machines at all stations are able to refill the SmartLink cards to a monetary amount equal to 1, 2, 4, 10, 20 and 40 trips as well as the daily or 30 day unlimited passes.$5.00 SmartLink Cards with 0 trips, ready for charging at any PATH vending machine, are available from vending machines at selected stations (33rd Street, Hoboken, Journal Square, Exchange Place, Newport and World Trade Center).
Pre-loaded SmartLInk Cards are available for $35.00 (20 trips @$1.50 plus a $5.00 card fee) at newsstands in PATH terminals (33rd St, Hoboken, Journal Square, Newark, World Trade Center).
Cards are also available for purchase online on the PATH website or pathsmartlinkcard.com
Fares
When buying a SmartLink card for the first time, an additional, one-time $5 fee is levied to offset the cost of producing the card. The cards can be refilled in specified numbers of trips or by adding unlimited passes. When refilling, the regular fare structure is used and the $5 card purchase fee is not imposed. As of September 18, 2011, the following fare structure is in effect:| Trips | Fare | Cost per trip |
|---|---|---|
| 1-trip | $2.00 | $2.00 |
| 10-trip | $15 | $1.50 |
| 20-trip | $30 | $1.50 |
| 40-trip | $60 | $1.50 |
| Senior SmartLink | $1 | $1 |
| SmartLink 1-day pass | $6.25 | N/A |
| SmartLink 7-day pass | $21 | N/A |
| SmartLink 30-day pass | $65 | N/A |
The maximum number of trips that can be loaded on the card is 140. An unlimited pass can be loaded on top of a regular trip SmartLink card. When that occurs, the individual rides will remain in the background of the card. When the unlimited pass expires the individual trips will be available for use.
Testing and roll-out
The initial testing phase was delayed several times due to software problems. It was originally intended to start in August 2006, but was postponed to October 2006. Continuing problems moved the testing phase of Senior SmartCards to February 2007.On July 2, 2007, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...
(PANYNJ) commenced the initial roll-out of the SmartLink card to the general public at the World Trade Center station. On July 23, 2007 the card was introduced at the 33rd Street station. On August 6, 2007 the card was introduced at the Hoboken station.
During the initial roll out, the cost of the card was $29 which included the 20 ride fare of $24 plus a $5 charge for the card. In February 2008 the cards were formally rolled out to the general public at all stations. In the initial stage, the SmartLink card allowed riders to place the same value on it as if they were purchasing a QuickCard by using machines located in PATH stations.
QuickCard phase-out / Introduction of SmartLink Gray
On October 24, 2008, the Port Authority announced that as of November 30, 2008, NJ Transit ticket machines on NJ Transit stations will no longer sell the QuickCard and as of December 31, 2008, NJ Transit ticket machines in PATH stations (Newark, Hoboken, Journal Square, Exchange Place, and Pavonia-Newport) will no longer sell the cards. The machines at the 33rd Street, Grove Street and WTC stations were removed in 2008.At the end of 2010, the QuickCard was discontinued and replaced with the SmartLink Gray card which is a non-refillable, disposable version of the SmartLink card. This card is sold at selected newsstand vendors and is available in 10, 20 and 40 trips (at the discounted price of $1.30 per trip). Unlike the regular SmartLink cards, the SmartLink Gray cards will have an expiration date.
Expansion
The Port Authority, part of several transit systems in the New York-New Jersey region, is hoping that one day there will be a universal fare card for the region's transportation. However, estimates for expanding the SmartLink card to the New York City SubwayNew York City Subway
The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and also known as MTA New York City Transit...
and buses may cost as high as $300 million. Estimates for adding New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
would cost an additional $100 million.
See also
- MetroCard
- Octopus cardOctopus cardThe Octopus card is a rechargeable contactless stored value smart card used to transfer electronic payments in online or offline systems in Hong Kong...
- Oyster cardOyster cardThe Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within the Greater London area of the United Kingdom. It is promoted by Transport for London and is valid on a number of different travel systems across London including London Underground, buses, the Docklands...
- SmarTripSmarTripSmarTrip is a plastic contact-less stored-value smart card used for payment within the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority system in Washington, D.C...
- Charlie Card
- Chicago CardChicago cardThe Chicago Card and the Chicago Card Plus are contactless smart cards used by riders of the Chicago Transit Authority and Pace to electronically pay for bus and train fares in the city of Chicago, Illinois, USA and the surrounding suburbs....
- Clipper card