Not surprisingly, Translink is giving ‘thumbs down’ to a study by a University of the Fraser Valley criminologist that says fare gates on transit systems don’t do much when it comes to deterring fare evasion, crime or public disorder.
Translink’s Derek Zabel says that’s not true, “You’ve got that visual, you’ve got that physical barrier and in order to get into the SkyTrain station you are going to be required to have that Compass Card with proof of fare payment for entry into the station or you’re going to have to tap in and tap out in order to get onto the SkyTrain system.”
The study also found fare gates never pay for themselves when you measure their cost with what’s returned from trying to prevent fare evasion.
The cost of the fare gates going in along the SkyTrain and Canada Line is $ 100-million.
The study was commissioned by the Transit Police at a cost of $ 5-thousand.
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