TransLink Transfer purchased from a Ticket Vending Machine

TransLink has announced that they’ve narrowed down the list of providers for Smart Card technology that will be replacing the current fare system. The current fare system which uses paper based fares with a magnetic strip and three zones to determine the price of travel, is expected to be phased out after the new technology is implemented in 2013.

The Smart Card technology that TransLink is looking for is already in place on many transit systems around the world, including the London Underground, Chicago’s ‘L’ system, as well as in Hong Kong and San Francisco. The card contains a computer chip which can be loaded with money and then tapped on a special reader upon entering a station or a bus. When the passenger exits the station or bus, they tap the card again so that the fare is deducted based on the distance travelled, route taken or time of day (peak or off-peak travel).

With the Smart Cards, turnstiles, or fare gates, will be installed at all SkyTrain, Canada Line, SeaBus and West Coast Express stations to eliminate fare evasion and increase passenger safety and security. However, when the Expo Line was constructed, fare gates were not considered, so the stations will need to be upgraded to accommodate the new hardware.

Source: TransLink