Thursday, April 23, 2009

I Have Seen The Future

I was at the Newport News Transportation Center late morning on Wednesday. They were installing the new automated farecard vending machine. If you hadn't heard (and you probably hadn't), Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) is going to farecard machines to replace buying farecards from Staff at customer service windows. That will eliminate the pay and benefits costs of the associated Staff. Having seen two of the machines (a second was on the truck), they look great. However, given HRT's track record on bringing new technology online, I'll only take it seriously when it actually works the way it's suppose to over a period of time.

For those still wanting to buy a farecard from a human, HRT is being more aggressive in getting merchants to sell HRT stock.

5 comments:

Jessica Blaine said...

So are they coming to Norfolk?

Any idea when they come online?

Michael Ragsdale said...

Given HRT's troubles in the past (think ACS and Google Transit), I'm not holding my breath

Avenging Archangel said...

Jessica,

One should be installed at HRT's 15th Street office soon.

Michael Ragsdale said...

And here's a picture of The Future

http://www.flickr.com/photos/raggiesoft/3474258730/

Anonymous said...

Speaking of the future, the latest
violent homicide at Hampton University, is making major National News Coverage.

When will our City and State officials, who cater to tourists and to the Military, realize that you have to fund, train, staff and support law enforcement? Does Governor Kaine think the tourism industry will survive, if "we" keeping making National News about
the violent crimes, illegal aliens issues and high taxes? Governor Kaine has cut back on law enforcement funding. And on funding
laws that our legislators have approved.