Editor: Most people who oppose the upcoming SkyTrain fare-gates seem to have not realized that part of the reason that TransLink and the ministry of transportation want to introduce fare gates is so that integration with the upcoming Compass transit fare-card can be achieved.
The Compass card and the data it obtains from its ability to track the beginning and end points of all transit trips will spawn huge improvements region-wide in transit service optimization and cost efficiency. These improvements will offset the capital and annual costs of the fare-gates.
Without the fare-gates, there would be no way to figure out what trips occur on SkyTrain and no way to optimize, based on those trips. That would be counter-productive, as SkyTrain is a part of so many transit trips in the region.
The Compass card concept is the same concept already introduced on the transit system in Montreal, and is used worldwide in transit systems. For example: In Tokyo, Japan, a single money-containing fare card will grant you access to not just the local metro, JR commuter rail and local bus lines, but also vending machines if you want a snack or a drink or one of the unique items dispensed through vending machines in Japan.
Once the Compass card becomes a part of our transit system, everyone’s going to have a better experience on transit here in Metro Vancouver.
Daryl Dela Cruz,
Surrey