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Why doesn't my Translink work on Caltrain?
Why doesn't it work? When will it work? Help!
I’m hella frustrated
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Inappropriate?Supposedly, in "Spring 2008".
see
http://www.translink.org/whereCanIuse...
see also
http://www.examiner.com/a-543212~Tran...
I knew one of the beta-testers from a few years ago. He experienced a lot of problems with it not working right for Caltrain. Admittedly, Translink's development has been a challenge because there are about 3 dozen different transit providers in the Bay Area and lots of different payment schedules to figure out how to handle with a smartcard.
There were lots of politics involved even now which has hindered progress. BART was named a prime culprit by many observers, I don't recall all the details but there has been lots of finger-pointing.
Also, it seems that MTC didn't pick the best company to work on the project, but now they are stuck. They've spent more than $150 million and 18 years on this albatross so far.
see
http://www.ibabuzz.com/transportation...
The time to get mad about this was probably 8 years ago -- we've long been complaining about it in the transit activist community. Now, since they are allegedly close to roll-out, and it's working on a few systems, perhaps the most productive thing to do it wait a few more months, since they aren't about to change technologies now.
Margaret
2 people say
this answers the question
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Inappropriate?Check out this story from today's headlines: "Dump TransLink firm, BART official urges" [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article...]
I’m frustrated
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Inappropriate?I wonder if BART's resistance to Translink has anything to do with their EZRider pilot program (also based on paying with smart cards).
More information from BART: http://www.bart.gov/news/features/fea...
I’m annoyed when politics gets in the way of helping people. Isn't that ironic?
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Inappropriate?Not likely. They state clearly that EZRider will role into Translink once it's up and running:
"Is this card the same as the Translink® card that I've been hearing about?
Your EZ Rider card uses similar technology to the future, regional Translink card, but your EZ Rider card only works on BART. When Translink is made available on BART, EZ Rider card users will be able to switch to Translink, which will work on transit systems throughout the Bay Area." -https://ezrider.bart.gov/ezrider/faq....
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Inappropriate?EZRider was conceived well after Translink was a project.
One example of how BART messed over the Translink program was insisting that the Translink card contain a separate purse just for BART tickets. They wanted it so that the card would show that someone buying a high-value ticket would pay X and the card would show Y amount of credit like what happens when you buy a high-value ticket today.
They could have made it so that if you rode BART a lot within a certain period of time that you automatically get a discount, or something like that, but they refused to change how designed their fare structure. anyway, instead of having one "wallet" on the Translink account we will now have to replenish/think about two. So much for universal fare card.
There was also an issue that a competing company that didn't get the translink contract, is the company that makes BART's faregates, and there was a hostile environment for making them compatible.
If you are using a monthly Caltrain pass now is it likely you'll want to keep using it even after Translink works for Caltrain. You can keep your monthly pass in your wallet whereas you will have to go to a Translink machine on the platform and tag your card before you get on, which will result in additional time and inconvenience.
I’m not optimistic that Translink will be a success
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Inappropriate?For this document: http://www.mtc.ca.gov/jobs/TransLink_...
"Monthly Pass holders who sign up for Autoload will be required to only tag on and off the first day of the month that they use their pass to activate the pass for the month and confirm the travel zones"
Translink will also be more secure, a lost or stolen translink monthly pass can be replaced.
