Ignore for a minute that TransLink may just be the nearest punching bag for all that's wrong in the world, including transit.
TransLink is about to launch its biggest innovation - the new Compass card to replace cash fares and the Faresaver system - and, come on, can't we give this much-maligned transportation authority some time to get it right?
The $180-million electronic ticketing system got dumped all over last week because it turns out bus users who pay with cash fares will have to pay a second time to get on SkyTrain. It's too costly to retrofit buses with terminals allowing cash purchases of a single Compass ticket that will work on the whole transit system.
This could place a financial hardship on about 6,000 people a day who start their trip on buses and don't want to pay a $6 deposit for a Compass Card.
But here's the thing: If those riders who prefer cash fares could be convinced to get a Compass card, the new system would be more efficient and the money paid to get the system running will be a good investment. What's more, an incentive, similar to discounts provided by TReO to win over drivers on the new Port Mann Bridge, will get more early adopters and smooth the transition.
Right now, people are anxious; they don't understand how the Compass card will work and they worry about being inconvenienced. TreO took care of that, too, by making it easy for people to sign up online.
We don't yet know what the fares will be and here, too, TransLink must be on top of its game, ensuring that it's no more expensive to ride transit with Compass than with the old system.
The fact is, the Compass card is coming. It's being tested in a few weeks and will roll out gradually next year. It will end fare abuse because it works in tandem with turnstiles, and if efficiently introduced, will match world-class systems used elsewhere, such as in London, where the Oyster card is ubiquitous.
But a clear, concise and multi-platform public relations plan, along with discounts, will be required to ensure a relatively seamless transition.
