WATCH: Another round of Translink Compass Cards are about to be handed out to transit users. The system, originally scheduled for a 2013 roll out, has been plagued with delays and cost overruns. John Daly explains who’s getting the cards next and when all transit users are expected to be on board.
VANCOUVER – The Compass Card will be rolled out to all West Coast Express users on June 8.
Translink made the announcement in a press release on Thursday morning.
Approximately 7,500 cards will be hand-delivered by customer outreach teams in the train stations, starting June 8. These teams will also help West Coast Express customers get accustomed to tapping in and out with their new cards.
“The delivery of Compass to West Coast Express is a significant milestone because it marks the first time our customers will be able to pay for their fare on the Compass system,” said TransLink Interim CEO Doug Allen, in a release.
“We promised to deliver Compass to our customers in a phased manner, and that is exactly what we are doing.”
Throughout June, new vending machines will be phased in to replace existing ticket vending machines at West Coast Express stations. Two stations will be switched over to Compass each weekend.
In addition, on June 1, an additional 50,000 post-secondary students from SFU, UBC, BCIT and Langara will switch from paper passes (U-Pass) to Compass.
By September, Translink expects that approximately 220,000 people will be using Compass.
To combat fare evasion and modernize payments, TransLink began work on an electronic Compass Card system in 2010. The system was supposed to be ready in 2013.
However, it has been plagued by problems and is millions of dollars over budget.
Faregates were installed years ago with much fanfare, complete with scanners that were meant to deter fare evaders with one simple tap of the card.
The cards were handed out to 85,000 riders, and beta-testing wrapped up in October, 2013.
More to come.
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