Both initiatives are using Visa payWave technology, based on a tiny chip embedded in a payment card that communicates with contactless card readers over a very short distance. This means that riders can eliminate the step of paying for a ticket at a separate machine or searching for cash – the transaction is completed on Visa’s global processing network, VisaNet. Visa’s global transit strategy supports a range of solutions that can be tailored to the needs of local transit systems and increase the integration between transit and Visa payment. The solutions range from using Visa products to pay for existing transit fares, to dual-use cards combining the advantages of Visa payWave with proprietary transit applications, to a completely integrated solution where Visa payWave-enabled cards and devices are accepted as fare media at the gate, reducing the operator’s need to issue proprietary media. Visa Europe is collaborating with RATP to evaluate the concept of Visa payWave acceptance directly at the fare gate. “This is an important milestone,” said Sandra Alzetta, Senior Vice President Head of Innovation at Visa Europe. “The Paris Metro system is one of the most technically sophisticated transit environments in the world and we have demonstrated that Visa payWave can indeed integrate with the existing gate system. Our solution proves that Visa payWave cards can provide additional features required by RATP such as the ability for an inspector to determine if a cardholder has paid for their journey and for the gates to track a cardholder’s journey through the system to ensure they are charged the optimal fare.” In Los Angeles, Visa is working with the LA Metro system to offer special Visa payWave cards that also incorporate the transit system’s “TAP” fare application. These dual-use, prepaid Visa cards will let riders pay their fares and purchase fare products using their Visa account, while also allowing cardholders to make purchases anywhere Visa debit is accepted. Two types of cards will be available through the pilot: • Ride, pay and reload cards – sold through automated ReadySTATION kiosks within the LA Metro system, these cards will be active and ready to use immediately for both transit fares and Visa purchases everywhere Visa debit is accepted. Riders will be able to add up to 500 Dollars in value at the kiosks • Ride, pay, reload and ATM cash access cards – these are personalised cards with a maximum value limit of 10,000 Dollars which are ordered online or over the phone. Beyond a larger value limit the personalised cards have the added feature of a Personal Identification Number (PIN) for obtaining cash at ATMs. It will also function as a standard Visa prepaid card for purchases outside the transit system. In addition, cardholders will be eligible for free direct deposit of their paychecks directly to the Visa prepaid card account, providing added convenience and security over payment alternatives like checks and cash, for those riders without traditional banking relationships “Combining TAP and Visa payWave on a single contactless card is a great idea and delivers convenience and speed at bus fare boxes and rail station validators for LA transit riders,” said Roger Snoble, Chief Executive Officer, at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. “It also provides commuters with an easy way to reload and manage their LA transit accounts, while providing them with a Visa prepaid card that is accepted at any Visa debit acceptance location or ATM.” www.visaeurope.com