Richmond public transit commuters can expect to see the long-awaited faregates appearing in the citys Canada Line stations later this month.
But the installations, which started Monday just across the Fraser River at the Marine Drive station, wont be operable until next spring.
Were going to start in Richmond this month and through the month of September, said TransLink spokesperson Ken Hardie.
By the end of the year, TransLink expects faregates will be installed in most of the stations, except older ones that would require more construction, such as Metrotown SkyTrain station.
The Canada Line, on the other hand, was built with the intention of having faregates at some point, making construction along the line easier, according to Hardie.
Its been long, long overdue, said city councillor Bill McNulty, who has been fighting for faregates since SkyTrain installation in 1986.
If everywhere else in the world has faregates for rapid transit, why dont we?
The new system will use an electronic Compass Card, where transit users tap their cards to open the paddle door gates.
Current products, such as the monthly pass, or the opportunity to buy several tickets at once for a discounted price will still be incorporated into the new system, according to Hardie. Buses will also be fitted electronically.
We knew the gates would need an electronic system, so the advent of the Compass system helped start the whole process, added Hardie. Plus, our provincial and federal partners agreed to pay for the gates and renovations, so everything started to fall into place.
McNulty said he wanted faregates installed to make a safer system, and is unimpressed TransLink only installed them because they were losing money due to fare evaders.
Though many cite this as the main reason, Hardie said the change will primarily provide better value.
With the electronic system, we can get better data on how the system is used, he said. This way, we can re-allocate where we put buses to respond to increasing demand in some areas. I believe well save about $9 to 20 million per year in efficiency.
Hardie ensured bus routes that are less used, but are needed by those who use them, such as night buses, will not be changed.
When we respond to demand and put more buses where more people go, customers are happy and are more likely to use the system, said Hardie. This will generate more revenue.
Despite the paddle doors, however, TransLink chief operating officer Doug Kelsey is still not convinced it will deter fare evaders.
Policing costs will therefore not be reduced, at least for the short term.
Just because you put faregates in doesnt eliminate the need for policing, Kelsey told the Vancouver Sun.
People will still find ways to compromise the system, but theres a physical barrier now. The gate demonstrates theres a price for entry.
The renovation costs $171 million, but TransLink is optimistic the system will pay for itself with savings of $7.1 million every year, starting in 2014, according to Kelsey.
The new system replaces the proof-of-payment system, which depended on the honesty of riders to pay for their passes before boarding. Those caught riding without a valid ticket would receive a $173 fine. But, until recently, that fine was proving hard to collect through the courts.
Marine Drive station was chosen as the first simply due to its proximity to the warehouse in which the gates are stored.
With a file the Vancouver Sun
