The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) has awarded a $184m contract to technology firm Accenture to replace its current fare collection system.

A new electronic fare payment system will be provided for Metrorail, Metro-operated parking facilities, Metrobus and MetroAccess services.

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The new open-architecture system, which will be built using the Accenture Fare Management Solution, will allow Metro customers to use SmarTrip cards, chip-enabled credit cards, federal government ID cards, and mobile phones using near-field communications (NFC) for fare payment.

"We are pleased to be helping Metro meet customers’ current and future fare management needs."

Metro general manager and CEO Richard Sarles said: "The new technology will provide more flexibility for accounts, better reliability for riders, and real choices for customers to use bank-issued payment cards, credit cards, ID cards, or mobile phones to pay their Metro fares."

Washington Metro will be among the first transit systems in the US to use this advanced technology to enhance reliability, and make travel more convenient for riders.

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Accenture senior managing director Paul Loftus said: "Consumers want to see new payment approaches that enable choice and are easy for them to adopt, whether it be contactless payment cards, mobile phone or even today’s SmarTrip card.

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"We are pleased to be helping Metro meet customers’ current and future fare management needs."

Accenture has previously implemented similar technology in Canada and the Netherlands, and will offer a pilot program to test the new system in 10 Metrorail stations, aboard 50 branded-route Metrobuses, and in two parking lots later in 2014.