Research Triangle Park, N.C. - Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) buses begin using new fare boxes on Monday, February 7th. The fare boxes will be in all 67 TTA buses and shuttles.

“Our customers will be pleased by the added convenience of the new fare box,” said John Tallmadge, Director of Commuter Resources. The new system was manufactured by GFI Genfare, which has provided more than 200 transit providers with automatic fare box collection and transaction processing equipment. GFI Genfare is a wholly owned subsidiary of SPX Corporation of Charlotte.

Tallmadge said, "the transit agencies in the region also look forward to the ability to offer new fare media better tailored to our riders needs." Capital Area Transit (CAT) has installed the new fareboxes and Durham Area Transit Authority (DATA) will install the new fareboxes in April to make it easier for passengers to travel in the Triangle with a single fare collection box.

The new collection system has advanced driver and passenger displays and will issue and validate coins, bills and magnetic transfers. It also will process magnetic stripe passes and provide electronic change. With the new fare boxes, TTA operators will be able to issue day passes or provide transfers. Other passes or stored ride cards will be available through TTA Customer Service.

Effective February 12, TTA will no longer accept tickets as fare as part of the upgrade to the new fare boxes and fare media. Riders can exchange tickets for a fare card of equal value through TTA Customer Service.

TTA transit operators have been extensively trained and staff will be at the TTA Transfer Center in the Research Triangle Park the week of February 7th to answer questions from riders on the new fare box and how it will be used.

TTA is a regional public transportation provider, offering a wide variety of transit and vanpool services to North Carolina's greater Triangle Region and outlying counties. Bus service is available to Apex, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Garner, RDU International Airport, RTP and Raleigh. The Triangle Transit Authority also provides commuter resources and hosts GoTriangle.org, the popular on-line resource for public transportation information in the Triangle.

TTA plans to implement a 28-mile rail transit system with 12 stations connecting Durham, RTP, Cary and Raleigh, with shuttles linking RDU International Airport and RTP. The rail transit system is expected to be operational in 2008. For more information, visit www.rideTTA.org or call (919) 549-9999.