Cubic Supports Metropolitan Transportation Commission
in Launching Clipper(SM) Card for San Francisco
Bay Area
CONCORD, Calif. – June
16, 2010 – For the past two months, ClipperSM card reader technology and
decals have been materializing on fareboxes, gates and ticketing machines throughout
the San Francisco Bay Area transportation network. Cubic Transportation Systems,
a subsidiary of Cubic Corporation (NYSE: CUB), installed the Clipper branding
and is now in charge of distributing the new smart card to local commuters.
Featuring colorful abstract artwork symbolizing 19th century Clipper ships, the
reloadable Clipper card allows riders to transfer from one transit agency to
another by simply touching the card to the Clipper card reader on board each
bus or at rail stations – using one card to pay for all the rides. The
Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), the agency that plans, coordinates
and finances transportation projects in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area,
chose the name Clipper because of its connection with the region’s transportation
history.
In the mid 1800s, San Francisco Bay was a port for the Clipper ships that brought
the 49ers and prosperity to California. In the 1930s and 1940s, Flying Clipper
amphibious airplanes flew to and from the city. Baseball fans also like the connection
to Joe DiMaggio, the Yankee Clipper, who was born and raised in the Bay Area.
Cubic joined with MTC officials in officially launching the new smart card on
June 16.
So far, Muni, BART, AC Transit, Golden Gate Transit, Golden Gate Ferry and Caltrain – representing
about 80 percent of Bay area transit riders – are on the regional smart
card bandwagon. Eventually, 25 transit agencies plan to use the Clipper system.
Currently, close to 113,000 people actively use Clipper’s predecessor,
the TransLink card, and TransLink cards are still being accepted on all fare
collection devices. For a limited promotional period, Clipper cards will be distributed
for free. Clipper cards are available online at www.clippercard.com, at more
than 200 retail outlets including Walgreens stores and the Bay Crossings kiosk
at the Embarcadero BART station, and at transit agency ticket offices. Patrons
can also have their pre-tax transit benefits loaded directly onto the Clipper
card with Clipper Direct through their employer’s transit benefits program.
“Cubic’s Concord-based customer service team has been working with
the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to get the word out about Clipper
and distribute the new smart card,” said Dave Lapczynski, Senior Vice President
of Worldwide Services for Cubic Transportation Systems. “Commuters who
would like to have a Clipper card are encouraged to get one now, while they are
free.”
In addition to swapping TransLink decals and modifying card readers to accept
the new smart card, Cubic’s Concord employees helped MTC to create the
new Clipper web site, which Cubic will maintain. Concord employees also install
and upgrade hardware and software, operate a call center and repair depot, provide
field maintenance, and supply central system administration, financial settlement
and clearing for Bay Area transit agencies.
“Cubic has a complete end-to-end service offering in the Bay Area,” noted
Richard Wunderle, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Cubic Transportation
Systems.
Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc., is part of Cubic Corporation. Cubic Corporation
is the parent company of three major business segments: Defense Systems, Mission
Support Services and Transportation Systems. Cubic Defense Systems is a leading
provider of realistic combat training systems and defense electronics. Mission
Support Services is a leading provider of training, operations, maintenance,
technical and other support services.
Cubic Transportation Systems is the world’s leading turnkey solution provider
of automated fare collection systems for public transport including bus, bus
rapid transit, light rail, commuter rail, heavy rail, ferry and parking. Cubic's
solutions and services include system design, central computer systems, equipment
design and manufacturing, device-level software, integration, test, installation,
warranty, maintenance, computer hosting services, call centre services, card
management and distribution services, financial clearing and settlement, multi-application
support and outsourcing services.
Every year, nearly 10 billion rides are taken worldwide using Cubic fare collection
systems. Cubic has delivered over 400 projects in 40 major markets on five continents.
Active projects include London; New York/New Jersey region; Washington, D.C.
/Baltimore/Virginia region; Los Angeles region; San Diego region; San Francisco;
Minneapolis/St. Paul; Chicago; Atlanta; Miami; Vancouver and Edmonton, Canada;
Brisbane, Australia and Scandinavia.