SFist: TransLink Passes First Round of BART Tests

Garlynn

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:19:41 -0800

Ah crap, sorry to post twice... still getting used to Moveable Type. :-) cheers, ~Garlynn

Garlynn

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:13:41 -0800

For more background info on this story, check out: BART, Translink and MTC

Garlynn

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:12:05 -0800

For more background info on this story, check out: http://undergroundscience.blogspot.com/2009/04/bart-translink-and-mtc.html

Todd1

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:32:42 -0800

I've been happy with my card too. only one driver has ever made me pay if the reader's busted. and i can finally ride BART again! So long #14. While its true that Translink takes commuter checks, the ones issued to me are not able to be electronically deposited yet, although other issuers checks are. The card should have a cooler picture on it though. Any ideas?

withak

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:34:51 -0800

1) I remember reading a FAQ somewhere on the translink site or the ezrider site saying that when translink went live on bart then there would be a way to transfer your remaining ezrider balance to a translink card as part of the changeover.

Adam

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:01:51 -0800

translink needs to accept amex refill payments too

aj

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:35:08 -0800

I think you will just tag in and tag out. A lot of railways do this now - e.g. London Overground.

KatyG

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:26:58 -0800

By the time Samtrans joins the party, I'll be fricken retired...

murphstahoe

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:17:48 -0800

1) I have translink and I have a BART EZ-Rider. When the switch happens, will BART refund my EZ-Rider balance? 2) I can't figure out how this is going to work on Caltrain. I'm assuming you tag your card then the conductor has to scan your card for PoP. That will be substantially more time consuming than the current setup. There are also many screwy corner cases in the Caltrain fare system. I have a Zone 1-3 pass. Sometimes I ride all the way to zone 4, so I have to buy an upgrade. Do I have to scan off the train and it knows to charge me an upgrade? This will present a pretty bad dwell time problem if the scanner is on board. The scanner could be on the platform and you have to scan out (otherwise pay max fare), but this is sort of a troublesome issue as well. Unlike BART where the ridership is distrubted across four trunk lines that spread the load on the outbound scanners - Caltrain has one line where 200-300 people offload simultaneously at Mountain View and head to shuttles.

Akit

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 23:41:47 -0800

Commuter Checks are accepted for Translink right now. But based on what you mentioned, it's better to wait until Translink fully works on BART. Commuter Checks are accepted two ways: --Electronically: You request for your next "check" to be electronically deposited to your Translink account and your account will be updated at the end of the month. You can request for an amount or request for a type of pass or fare media. Currently, e-cash, AC Transit and Muni passes are available. AC Ten Ride Tickets and discount tickets for Golden Gate is not sold because the proper fare is deducted (all Golden Gate rides on Translink is discounted automatically with no minimum or maximum). --With a physical Commuter Check. Certain locations accept the check and will upload your funds on your card with a special machine. It's instantly funded and you still have the flexibility to use your other checks to pay for physical paper passes. The only place I know where to claim a check for Translink e-cash is the AC Transit ticket office at Transbay. Fortunately, you can tell Commuter Check to issue you multiple checks, especially if you have to buy two different fare media, like one BART ticket and one Muni pass. With Translink, electronic cash or electronic passes makes it an easy transition, while you can still ask for a physical check for transit agencies not yet ready to participate in Translink.

Belgand

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 22:38:16 -0800

The most important thing for TransLink to do at this point is to find a way to charge it with Commuter Checks. My girlfriend and I both have them and use them and she has to commute to work over in Oakland every day which means taking Muni to the BART station and then transferring over. It would be very helpful to have all of this on a single card. However as long as she's getting Commuter Checks from her work she's going to be stuck using the old system. Both are great systems (at least, in theory) we just need to get them to finally talk to each other. Maybe a Commuter Check system where you don't have to be handed a physical check and then take it to buy a pass in person like some sort of caveman.

eddo

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:03:27 -0800

Ok, not to nitpick, but here goes. You can "officially" get your TransLink card NOW. It is just not functional on BART. It will just be valid as fare payment on BART once BART is functional. Also, May 8 is when BART will likely become "revenue ready", but BART likely won't allow riders to use TransLink as fare payment until June. And, the "final two feathers in its cap" thing is totally incorrect. After BART and Caltrain, SamTrans and Santa Clare VTA are scheduled next. Those 7 operators are the bulk of Bay Area public transit use. However, in the long run, TransLink is supposed to work as fare payment on all 27 (?) Bay Area transit agencies, including those many SF residents never use or heard of, but are still part of our transit infrastructure, like Vallejo Transit, Tri Delta Transit, County Costa County Connection, WestCAT, etc. (most of which connect to San Francisco via BART).

theo

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:50:55 -0800

Currently with the Translink Fastpass you don't get free BART rides within SF. I expect Muni wants to get rid of those altogether and save the $. If you go from downtown to the Mission a lot, you shouldn't make the switch until they figure out what they're going to do about it.

Doctor Memory

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:17:48 -0800

AWWWW YEAH. Okay, I'm a huge nerd: this makes me ridiculously excited. I've been loving the MUNI translink card since I got it; being able to finally stop carrying BART tickets as well would make my year.

aj

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:15:31 -0800

The whole point of fast pass on BART is to provide all-u-can-eat service throughout SF on one pass. BART provides service on Mission at a much lower cost per trip than does Muni, so it's a good deal for everyone. But because it's using SF tax dollars to pay part of the fees, it can't be extended outside city limits.

aj

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:13:37 -0800

If you're that cheap, yes.

Akit

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:02:44 -0800

It's actually 90 minutes. I just wish the readers would tell you what time the e-transfer would expire so that you don't get nailed by the fare inspector for the so-called "expired transfer" citation.

withak

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:23:39 -0800

Isn't that what you have to do right now? It would be easier to just scratch the stupid BART capability from the Fastpass, lower the price a few dollars, and save BART and Muni the effort of having to bill/pay each other for those trips.

Akit

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:49:03 -0800

Let's modify this. Board at Balboa Park, get off at West Oakland. Holding a Muni e-fastpass. Would BART piss-off passengers by making them get off at Embarcadero to exit, and re-enter just to save some money????

EllyMental

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:41:35 -0800

I got on board (excuse the pun) as one their testing rubes and have been using it a lot for about a month. I must say it works very well, at least for busses and underground Muni, which is what use. They've made it really easy to add money to your account online and for tagging when boarding. Transfers work well too--you get a 30 or so minute grace period to hop back on for a connecting ride.

aj

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:56:14 -0800

No, because that is not a fastpass trip. You only get a (paid for with your MTA fare) fastpass trip if you travel between Balboa Park and Embarcadero.

Akit

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:24:28 -0800

But while BART is to be joining the Translink party, there's still one big question to ask... If a person has an e-Muni Fastpass (on Translink) and travels at Daly City and exits at West Oakland, will the BART fare deduct the local SF fare due to the fastpass?

theo

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 11:02:03 -0800

FANTASTIC. BART is the system that really matters for achieving the promise of Translink. The majority of transit riders use one local bus system plus BART. First we get to stop carrying around slippery BART tickets. Then, there's little reason not to switch our foil Muni FastPasses to Translink. Finally, ONE CARD!!!

withak

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:52:10 -0800

yay

aj

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:48:50 -0800

Not exactly on time, but better late than never.

DO

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:36:11 -0800

"BART and Caltrain [...] are the final two feathers in its cap..." What, no love for VTA?

Akit

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 10:33:46 -0800

I just got back from vacation. Is this for frickin' real? BART finally "on-time" with this Translink project? Am I dreaming? I thought those whiny babies were going to say "screw Translink and hail to our own RFID cards."