More trouble for Translink, which is in the midst of a major refit at Skytrain stations across the Lower Mainland.
After years of the so-called honour system, fare gates are finally going in along Skytrain routes to cut down on the number of people who ride but don’t pay.
The fare gates are being installed by an American company. But Surrey inspectors have discovered that company doesn’t have the proper permits.
For years, Translink and politicians have been hyping the new fare gate system.
Finally this past August, the first of 265 fare gates to be installed was actually unveiled.
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While some stations are still waiting, others already have the fare gates.
But Surrey electrical inspectors discovered this week that one of the contractors on the 100 million dollar project — Cubic Transportation Systems of Burnaby and San Diego — didn’t have a work permit from the city for the fare gate job and the required electrical approval was missing.
Whether it’s a refrigerator or a fare gate, Canadian Standards Association certification or the equivalent is required for electrical devices like these fare gates.
NDP transportation critic Harry Bains says it is an oversight.
“Certainly for the taxpayers, and for the government of this province who are using taxpayer money — not just a few dollars, but 220 million dollars, that is a lot of money, especially when Translink says they don’t have money to provide service — and we find out that now after spending that much money, the equipment that they are using is not even CSA approved. I think that is shocking.”
TransLink was unable to put forward anyone to be interviewed, but claims in an email that the fare gate equipment does have necessary approvals from CSA certified testing authorities.
Global News requested TransLink provide copies of those approval certifications, and we are still waiting. TransLink says it takes the incident seriously and is working to ensure installation meets municipal standards and codes.
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