http://www.chicago-card.com

Needs
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is one of the largest public transportation systems in the nation. In November 2002, the CTA introduced its first electronic pay-as-you-go farecard, the Chicago Card. Several months later, the CTA began searching for an alternate method of account management and hence, the Chicago Card Plus project was born.

How Chicago Card Plus works
Based on so-called smart card technology, the Chicago Card Plus works much in the same way as an access-control card. After the commuter waves his card in front of a scanner, the Web site registers and records the transaction in his/her online account. The Web site is equipped with an account-protection safety net so that when a customer’s balance falls below a certain level, the Web site automatically reloads his or her account. Riders will receive an e-mail notice each time their account has been charged and at any time, a customer can log on to the Web site to change his or her account information.

Solutions
The primary objective behind the Chicago-Card Plus project was to build a Web-based system that gives commuters an easier way to manage their public transportation expenses.

Solution No 1: Optimized Usability
Americaneagle.com designed a layout that was both graphically appealing and compatible with multiple browser platforms, connection speeds, and experience levels.

Solution No. 2: Easy-to-Use Online Account Management System
The key goal on the account-management side of this project was to build a password-protected area where transit customers can maintain and manage their fare cards conveniently and flexibly. Whenever the need arises, customers enter the user login section to perform a variety of activities, such as replacing a card or updating credit card information.

Solution No. 3: Sophisticated Administration Tool
Americaneagle.com designed an administrative section on the back end of the Web site to enable CTA administrators to manage and maintain a variety of functions. Through this password-protected section, CTA administrators can generate order reports, track customer usage, and manage customer service inquiries.

Results
The newly launched Chicago Card Plus Web site gives transit customers 24-hour convenience of account management wherever they are, whether it be at home, office, or even while using hand-held wireless devices.

The Web site is truly revolutionary from a public transportation standpoint. In fact, it is one of the first of its kind in the world.

Americaneagle.com expects other cities to develop similar “automatic-replenishment” technology for their public transit system in the near future.