Are SkyTrain fare gates worth it?
Posted February 1, 2013 11:53 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – BC’s transportation minister is standing by the decision to install fare gates at SkyTrain stations, despite a study suggesting they won’t accomplish much.
The study from Criminologist (and, it should be noted, BC Liberal candidate) Darryl Plecas finds fare gates are not the solution to fare evasion and crime.
But Transportation Minister Mary Polak says government research suggests their decision to install them.
“We’re convinced that these certainly are worth the investment to ensure that the fares are being paid and that we have increased security on those trains. We believe it’s worth it,” says Polak.
Both Polak and TransLink point out these types of systems have worked well elsewhere.
Plecas’ study was commissioned by Transit Police. As for that force’s future once the fare gates are working, Polak says that will be up to TransLink.
The cost of the fare gate plan is about $100 million; most of the gates are already installed but won’t be operational until the fall.
