Caltrain riders are being asked for their opinions in an online survey aimed at improving features on its ticket vending machines. The survey, which can be found on the Caltrain website at www.caltrain.com, is the first step in a process to replace the current machines, Caltrain officials said.

Features being considered include providing riders with the ability to load Clipper cards, and giving change in paper bills instead of coins. Once the desired features are identified, the next step in the process is to develop a funding plan, according to Caltrain.

New ticket vending machines are expected to be in place sometime in 2015 or 2016, replacing the 104 current machines at 31 stations, Caltrain officials said.

Caltrain is also looking into technology that would allow riders to buy tickets on their mobile devices.

— Bay City News Service

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