klo

Finally! After going to Hong Kong so much and finding the ease in the Smart Card system, Toronto's finally going to get it. Read Article Below.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...=1101510611314

Nov. 27, 2004. 10:48 AM

Pilot project begins in two years

KEVIN MCGRAN
TRANSPORTATION REPORTER

We may have to start calling it The Better e-Way.

After initial resistance, the Toronto Transit Commission is now fully on board with a $200 million provincial plan that would create a single high-tech fare system from Hamilton to Oshawa. "It's going to happen and we know the province is going to invest in it. We want to get it right," Brian Ashton, a Toronto councillor and TTC commissioner, said in an interview yesterday.

Ashton made his comments at a meeting of the Canadian Urban Institute, which drew leaders from around the Greater Toronto Area to talk about the future of transit. Ashton said in an interview that the about-face came after a closed-door meeting of TTC commissioners last week.

GO Transit chairman Gordon Chong called the decision "terrific," adding: "They had to be dragged kicking and screaming, but I guess they've seen the future."

Electronic smart card systems are already in place in several American, Asian and European cities. A microchip in the card counts off transit rides. Depending on the technology used, the cards, which can be purchased with a set number of rides on them, are topped up at kiosks and wickets, and in some systems via a secure website.

When riders enter a station or step on to a vehicle, a card reader scans the chip, verifying that the fare is paid and deducting it from the number of trips on the card. Some transit smart cards don't even require removing them from a pocket, wallet or purse.

The chips can be adjusted to allow for the price of an adult, senior or child's fare, or sliding-scale fares like GO's zone system. Some can even instruct a door to stay open longer for a disabled passenger or someone who travels with a seeing-eye dog.

It will take about two years to implement a pilot project — likely to include GO Transit, parts of Mississauga Transit and the TTC's Union Station, which is the primary transfer point for commuters arriving by GO. If successful, the project would roll out across the GTA, between Hamilton and Oshawa.

GO Transit has been the biggest backer of the smart card technology, because its proof of payment machines — in which tickets are inserted so the travel date can be stamped on them — are old, breaking down and too expensive to replace.

GO hired smart card expert Robert Hollis a year ago to run the project. But the Dalton McGuinty Liberals, who campaigned on a promise to integrate fares in the GTA, pushed GO to work faster and ultimately brought Hollis on board to work directly for the government.

The government plans to issue a request for proposals to smart card suppliers in the next few months — with or without the TTC — and the City of Toronto didn't want to be left behind.

The TTC, by far the largest transit system in the GTA carrying 80 per cent of all riders, had resisted the smart card because it had more pressing issues to spend money on: namely new bus purchases and maintenance of tracks, streetcars and subways.

But without the TTC's participation, the Liberal promise of integrated transit would have been empty.

The TTC's chief general manager, Rick Ducharme, said yesterday the TTC is on board now because financial promises from Queen's Park and Ottawa, through the gas tax and other measures, mean its future is more stable.

"We're in the camp," said Ducharme. "Our commitment is to fully co-operate and take this much more seriously."

Queen's Park is expected to pay for GO's part of the bill, about $60 million, and at least one-third of the remaining $140 million, with the municipalities and the federal government paying the rest.

Ashton said the city is not so concerned about seamless travel between transit authorities but about the smart card's economic benefits. People could use the card to pay for coffee, lunch or other goods at subway stations and corner stores.

"Think of the things you can do," said Ashton. "You're into advertisers on your smart cards or aeroplan miles if you want. The marketing capabilities are enormous.

"We think there's a potential beyond transit. E-transit will become e-city," Ashton added. "There's a huge opportunity and not only to serve the transit system but potentially to make Toronto an e-city (and) we're far behind in a whole number of areas."

The TTC has been accused of dragging its feet on the issue, and admits it has problems with passengers buying tokens, tickets and Metropasses. It's considering a huge move toward vending machines to dispense tickets and tokens. A smart card could simplify fares and simplify the counting of cash.

"Our equipment, though it's old-fashioned, it still works," said Ashton. "However, we know we have problems moving cash around. We know we have problems with fare media fraud. People around us are becoming more modern, we don't want to be seen as some city Luddite."

Ducharme said it's too early to tell whether the TTC would entirely eliminate the "gravity box" which collects tickets, tokens and coins, but he said he's gone from a cynic to a believer, in part because of a trip to Hong Kong where the smart card is a smashing success.

"Can we do it? Once you see it you believe it. I was in Hong Kong and I was very impressed," said Ducharme, adding that smart card suppliers have had a decade to work out the kinks. "Just because I didn't push it doesn't mean I don't believe strongly in it. I believe we can do it."

Charlatan

This is a step in the right direction. We need more people using public transit in the GTA.

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Janey

Now we need better integration with the GO, VIA and the rest of the GTA's transit systems. Is there any transit system that services Pearson Airport? either GO, TTC or Mississauga? I didn't think so. Can anybody think of a reason why not?

vox_rox

Just a thought, but do the words "smart" and "Toronto" really belong in the same sentence?

Janey

very funny. why is it always a hit? Really, I'm from Vancouver, yet I feel embarrassed at the constant sniping and bitching. It not very becomming.

(mother's rant ...)

vox_rox

Janey,

You obviously missed the smilies at the end, signifying that I was not truly denegrating T.O. Rather, I was merely having a little bit of fun for those I know who live in that fine city and would find the humour in my quick retort.

Although it is true that I would find it difficult to live there (I was born and raised in Ottawa, spent MUCH time in Toronto so I know of what I speak), I do not want anything evil or bad to happen to it.

I feel the same way you do, only my major concern is the constant bickering between Edmonton and Calgary (the city where I reside). I can see the point if it's light-hearted and fun, which it is sometimes. But often it is serious and mean-spirited and, although Edmonton is not a city that I would choose to live, it is a nice town and I know many fantastic people who live there.

However, having said that, there is nothing preventing me from jabbing any municipality in the ribs if I think they deserve it.

So, really, I accept your rant as just that, but perhaps you should put it all into perspective. Peace.

Pierre

actinic

I totally agree. The thing that is going to be a stickler are those that go from one end of the line to the other are going to pay more than those that go a few stops. I don't think I should be paying $2.25 for going 2-3 stops where person X pays $2.25 from one end of the city to the other. I doesn't make fiscal sence to me. I think there should be a base entry cost and when you exit, $0.XX/stop that's deducted off the card.

IMHO, the TTC infrastructure is in disaray from what I hear from friends and family members working for the TTC, unless they impliment this type of fare system, the TTC and Toronto will be nothing more than a joke.

JM2C

Lucifer

Now they need to implement some decent security system. A whole bus load of people and no one saw anything? Sounds like NYC

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Janey

aack! I'm sooo sorry Pierre... Yes I did see those smileys, but i thought they were gloats! I didn't mean to get on your case. But I really feel that for some reason the country has a hate on for TO and I cant figure it out. I'm not blind, i know its a big city, and I come from BC, so I know what it is like from outside. But man, it seems some of the worst are westerners who used to live in Toronto, and, as they put it, 'escaped'. they never miss an opp to trash their old burg. I never bad mouth Vancouver in the same mean spirit. or Montreal, which i dearly love.

anyways,

I really apologize for ranting at you....

Jane (to make up, I just discovered, and will be posting some contributions to the Creative/exhibition thread soon)

vox_rox

Well, that sounds like fun, but not of much use to me. I still have no access to that section of the forum. Until the powers that be elevate me to that lofty status, whatever goes in those star-chamber forums is strictly off-limits. But, in all honesty, I appreciate the sentiment.

Take care,
Peace,

Pierre
(hoping against hope that, sometime soon, he will log on and notice some great new forums available to him )

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