CRCT Ticketing & Fare Collection Systems 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What type of fare media uses radio frequency technology to enable contactless payment at transit readers?
- Magnetic stripe card
- RFID/NFC smart card (Correct answer)
- Paper punch ticket
- Coin token
Correct answer: RFID/NFC smart card
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) and NFC (Near Field Communication) smart cards transmit fare data wirelessly when tapped near a reader.
Question 2: What does AFC stand for in transit revenue control systems?
- Annual Fare Count
- Automatic Fare Collection (Correct answer)
- Authorized Financial Control
- Agency Funds Clearinghouse
Correct answer: Automatic Fare Collection
Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) refers to the integrated system of fare gates, validators, vending machines, and back-office software that automates fare payment.
Question 3: In a distance-based fare system, the fare amount is determined by:
- The time of day the trip is taken
- The number of zones crossed or distance traveled (Correct answer)
- The type of vehicle used
- Passenger age alone
Correct answer: The number of zones crossed or distance traveled
Distance-based fares calculate the charge based on how far a passenger travels, typically measured by zones or actual route distance.
Question 4: A 'tap-on/tap-off' fare system requires passengers to interact with fare readers at which points in their journey?
- At entry only
- At both entry and exit (Correct answer)
- At exit only
- Only at transfer points
Correct answer: At both entry and exit
Tap-on/tap-off systems capture both the boarding and alighting points to calculate the correct fare for distance-based or zone-based pricing.
Question 5: What is the primary revenue control purpose of a fare gate (turnstile) in a transit station?
- To count passengers for scheduling purposes
- To physically enforce fare payment before allowing entry to the paid zone (Correct answer)
- To provide customer information and directions
- To connect fare systems to the internet
Correct answer: To physically enforce fare payment before allowing entry to the paid zone
Fare gates act as a physical barrier that only unlocks after a valid fare payment is detected, preventing fare evasion at station entry points.
Question 6: What term describes the process of adding monetary value to an existing transit smart card?
- Encoding
- Top-up or reloading (Correct answer)
- Validation
- Reconciliation
Correct answer: Top-up or reloading
Top-up or reloading refers to adding funds to a stored-value transit card at a ticket vending machine, retail location, or online portal.
CRCT Ticketing & Fare Collection Systems 1
What type of fare media uses radio frequency technology to enable contactless payment at transit readers?