As of today, Metro Rail riders can no longer use credit and debit cards to pay for fares at NFTA payment kiosks.

The change, which is being put in place at the same time the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority is making other changes to its fare structure, is being done for cost reasons, said spokesman C. Douglas Hartmayer.

The authority learned that it was going to cost more than $500,000 to make sure the security of the system is in line with Credit Card Data Industry standards, he said. Because only 3 percent of Metro Rail riders paid by credit or debit card, the authority decided it would be a wiser business decision to do away with the service.

Hartmayer noted that riders still may use a credit or debit card to buy monthly passes sold at area retail outlets.