TransLink's recent decision to cull certain SkyTrain incentives has led to concerns that it will drive transit use down.
On July 30, TransLink announced the end of its employee pass program, FareSaver and free travel for family members of monthly pass holders on Sundays and holidays - all effective as of Jan. 1, 2014. The transition will occur around the same time the Compass Card program is implemented.
New Westminster Coun. Jonathan Cote said he's worried the changes will ultimately discourage transit use.
"I think it's always a concern when you remove any kind of incentive to promote people to use public transit," Cote told The Record. "Things like the FareSaver tickets or family program put in place make it easier for people to take transit."
Cote said he lives near the Columbia SkyTrain station, and his family often uses the family program on the weekend.
"I use transit quite regularly, my whole family uses transit," he added. "I think these changes will discourage families from taking transit. Not a lot of families live in such close proximity to a SkyTrain station and adding up the upfront cost chokes you to get on the SkyTrain. I hope in some way this will be addressed."
He also noted when the transit authority was first considering the Compass Card, it was clear it would not be changing the rate structures in place, and it would not eliminate discounts.
"I think it's important for TransLink to be talking more about what kind of incentives (are) with the new (Compass Card) and how they'll be replacing these discounts."
Burnaby Coun. Colleen Jordan said she's also worried the move will discourage transit use, which is the opposite of what the programs were intended to do.
"When they bring in any new system there's going to be some changes and some people are never happy with any change, but this one seems to be very painful because they're doing it in drips and drabs now," she said. "This is another layer of specialized programs there to encourage people to take transit."
The City of Burnaby has 95 city employees currently taking advantage of the pass program, according to Jordan.
In total, the program was used by 300 businesses and 25,000 employees.
"It encouraged people to take transit and also then we don't have to supply parking spaces for people with cars," she said. "That's an expense too. All those little things add up. I would say that's not a positive change."
Jordan said she's also concerned about the transitional phase when Compass Cards and paper tickets will be around at the same time.
"My main concern is that it actually looks like what they're trying to do is discourage people from using transit and they had so many programs to encourage people," she said. "And for the sake of a one-sizefits-all payment system those are going away."
TransLink maintains this is a move towards a more equitable system.
"We don't know what the savings would be," said Derek Zabel, TransLink spokesperson, in an email to The Record. "(This) is about creating fairness and equity across the system."
Zabel's comment echoes what TransLink's executive vice president had to say in the initial press release announcing the fare tariff changes.
"This is about equity and fairness in the system," Bob Paddon said in the release. "We took a good, hard look at our programs to determine which ones still make sense. We found some programs benefited a select few people and companies."
Paddon said the incentive programs were successful - providing an 84 per cent increase in ridership and a 50 per cent increase in service hours - in the past decade.
"Our incentive programs did their job," he said. "In the interest of fairness and efficiency for the overall system, it's now time to dial back on some of our discount programs."
The Compass Cards will go into beta testing this fall, and TransLink is looking for beta testers.
"Beta testing could go up to four weeks as they test the system," Zabel told The Record. "After beta testing, we will take some time to correct or fix any issues we might encounter."
Following the testing, the transition to Compass Cards will begin in the fall, Zabel said.
"Both fare systems will be running at the same time as we transition to the Compass Card," he added. "Compass Card stored value will offer approximately 14 per cent off cash fares depending on the zone or type of pass."
For more information about the Compass Card beta testing, or to sign up, visit www.translink.ca.
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