Skytrain stations in B.C.'s Lower Mainland will soon be outfitted with turnstiles, and users will have to adopt a Smart Card system, says the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority (Translink). [/p]The decision to end the infamous honors system was confirmed by B.C. Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon at a press conference in Vancouver, Wednesday. Falcon says the turnstiles and Smart Cards will begin to be implemented by 2010, a move that he hopes will boost ridership on the system by making people feel more secure about taking the Skytrain. [/p]"The only way you're going to make it successful is if people feel like they're safe. That's certainly the lesson in London and Amsterdam," Falcon said. "They've seen an immediate reduction in criminal activities in their systems with the implementation of turnstiles and Smart Cards." [/p]The Smart Card will work like a regular debit card, requiring passengers to prepa, load the card and then swipe it before and after they get off the train. To obtain a card, Skytrain passengers will have to provide personal information. [/p]Falcon says the cards, in conjunction with the turnstiles, should cut down on fare evaders, and is expected to increase Translink revenues by more than 20 per cent. The cards will also give transit officials a better picture of who's causing trouble on platforms. This is because officials will have a detailed list of who is riding that particular line at the time.
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