by KYW's Ed Kasuba

A two-month pilot project begins Monday to test Patco’s new automated fare collection system. 

The new system uses a "smart" card to collect fares and pay for parking.  It also includes state-of-the-art ticket machines far more consumer-friendly than the old ones.

Delaware River Port Authority vice chair Jeff Nash says this is part of a rebirth of the entire Patco system:

"We are expecting $54 million in federal funds to refurbish all of the Patco cars.  They have done station enhancements of all the stations, both in Philadelphia and New Jersey.  (They) have been changed to make the ride more comfortable.”

Nitin Khanna lives in Philadelphia and regularly visits friends in New Jersey.   He was selected to be among the first 150 Patco riders to test the systemL

"It takes the frustration out of the travel.  You don’t have to think, 'Do I have enough coins?  Do I have enough bills?'  You just tap it and you go, so you couldn’t ask for anything better than that.”

The system is being tested at Woodcrest station and two Philadelphia stations (8th and Market, and 9th-10th and Locust).   It’s hoped all Patco stations will be on line by December.