TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond is reassuring the public today that any potential fraud issues with the new compass ticketing system has been “minimal”.
It’s been little more than a week after the compass system went into full operation, and the complaints have been coming in at a steady stream.
Disabled transit riders, which were promised by TransLink in January that at least one of the fare gates would be left open to accommodate wheelchairs or scooters, say it’s often difficult to find an attendant to help them access the entryway.
On Wednesday, a ‘hack’ was revealed that can re-program Compass paper tickets, which tricks the system into thinking they are loaded with credit. All anyone needs to achieve the hack is an android phone and a few apps.
“I’d like to think the entire system is perfectly secure… these tickets not quite so,” Desmond said.
“But I’d like to tell the public that we don’t accept fraud and we have a lot of back office ways to minimize anyone’s ability to get many free rides.”
FULL COVERAGE: Compass Card
However Desmond clarified today that the cards cannot be hacked, they can only be cloned. It’s an issue TransLink has been aware of since they chose the provider, Cubic.
Desmond said since December there have only been 35 incidents, which has meant a loss in revenue of about $150. In the past, TransLink has estimated fare evasion costs them between $7 million and $15 million a year.
“It is quite a small issue… if we find that it is ramping up or becoming more frequent then we’ll have to address that.”
Overall the TransLink CEO said he believes that “the core system is very, very secure” and while they are looking into reworking the tickets to prevent the problem, it will be dependent on cost.
Addressing the issues surrounding disabled transit riders with the new system, Desmond said the gates are 100 per cent accessible but also admitted “they haven’t been perfect” and in some cases people with disabilities waiting 10 minutes at Burrard Street station is “not acceptable”.
Next week, TransLink will be launching a survey to get a better sense of the challenges people with disabilities have when taking public transit. He also said to help improve accessibility that TransLink is considering temporary Compass personnel to stay on the job and man fare gates.
The Compass Card project cost almost $200 million to implement and another $20 million a year to operate, leaving critics saying the $15-million tab for fare evasion looks like a bargain by comparison.
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