Taiwan on Jan. 1 began taking initial steps toward creating an integrated transit-payment system by introducing multicard readers on Taipei’s bus network, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.
The readers, to be introduced on three routes in the city, will accept up to eight transit smart cards issued by EasyCard Corp., Far Eastern Electronic Toll Collection Co., Taiwan Smart Card Co. and the Kaohsiung Rapid Transit System.
The service will be extended to 60% of the total buses in operation nationwide by April, according to the ministry.
The Ministry is allocating NT$15 billion (US$517 million or 389 million euros) to promote the integrated system and to provide funding for the bus companies to make the change to the integrated charging system within three years.
China Engineering Consultants Inc. is manufacturing the readers, while various vendors provide the cards for the different operators.
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