According to Kelly Williams, public relations director for the company, Cubic is the largest automatic fare collections systems company in the world. "We are anticipating business in the area," Wlliams tells GlobeSt.com. "We need a presence for that."

Willams says that Boston is exploring an upgrade in its mass transit fare collections system and Cubic believes its system would be right for that. "If they put out a request for proposal for a new automated ticketing system, we can put in a bid," Williams notes. "There is a new emphasis on the smart card."

In the US, Cubic installed the first smart card-based systems in Washington, DC, New York City and Chicago. The Boston T is the country's oldest and fourth-largest transportation system.