JUTC to kick off new fare collection system in April

Jamaica's Urban Transit Company (JUTC) plans to launch a cashless fare collection system in April next year, according to the company's chairman, Garnet Roper. The new system will utilize a SmarterCard payment system, which is expected to be more comprehensive than the SmartCard process introduced at the company some 10 years ago, according to a release from state news agency JIS. The machines to facilitate the new fare collection system have been installed and the procurement process is being finalized. "We are anticipating the cashless system coming into effect April 2013 and we hope, before then, to put in a comprehensive marketing arrangement to advise our commuters about a timetable, scheduling and so on, to make the commuting public feel that much better about taking the JUTC," Roper said. The new fare collection system is among several measures being introduced by the company that are intended to boost the company's revenue while cutting costs and improve the safety of passengers.