The shift to cards from coins emphasizes several levels of increased security: there’s less internal theft and loss by eliminating cash handling; transit systems can more easily issue specialty identification cards for reduced fare, student and disabled passenger use; and money can be protected more quickly if a smart card is lost or stolen.
The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) in Chicago works with an outside vendor to produce reduced fare permit photo ID cards for seniors and people with disabilities. The provider, Polaroid Commercial ID Systems of Waltham, Mass., produces the cards in its Ft. Wayne, Ind., facility.