Translink Audit Shows Turnstiles Unnecessary, Smart Cards and Ditching Zone System a Better Option

From 24 Hours --

It's still all systems go for turnstiles at SkyTrain stations, despite an audit done for TransLink that suggests the overwhelming majority of passengers already pay their fares.

An independent audit, released yesterday by TransLink, found the rate of fare evasion across the entire system hovered around 2.5 per cent. SkyTrain had the highest rate, at around 5.4 per cent.

That means TransLink was missing out on between $5.3 and $9.5 million in fare revenue per year, the PricewaterhouseCoopers audit suggests.

It's further evidence the transit system doesn't need turnstiles, argues former TransLink director and Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan.

"It doesn't make financial sense," he said. "There's no possible way you could recover your expense from fares."

But TransLink spokesperson Ken Hardie says turnstiles have nothing to do with cost recovery.

"We have known for a long time there is not an economic rationale for paying to install turnstiles," he said.

Instead, Hardie said turnstiles would allow TransLink to install a 'smart card' system that would negate the current awkward zone system.

"The public will see it as a far fairer approach," Hardie said.

TransLink has yet to officially pick a gate or smart card system, but Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon has unilaterally indicated that TransLink should head in that direction.

NDP critic Maurine Karagianis said money for the soon-to-be cash-strapped transit authority, which expects budget shortfalls of at least $150 million yearly by 2012, could be better spent on security staffing at all stations.