TransLink (San Francisco Bay Area)
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TransLink is a rechargeable contactless stored value smart card fare collection system being implemented in the San Francisco Bay Area.[1] The fare system was introduced as a pilot program in 2002 by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to reduce the number of fare systems and help integrate transit systems in the Bay Area. TransLink is still being rolled out, and currently only two transit agencies, and part of another, accept the cards.[2]
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[edit] Expansion
Expansion will continue in 2007 to expand the coverage of TransLink to more transit systems in the Bay Area. Some TransLink pilot programs have been discontinued (e.g. the ability to use it as a monthly pass on all San Francisco Municipal Railway lines, and use in all BART stations) in preparation for the full rollout of TransLink. In general, the rollout of TransLink has been much slower than that of similar cards[citation needed] including Oyster card and SmarTrip, due in part to the many different complex fare structures present in the Bay Area.
Two transit agencies currently accept TransLink on all routes[2]:
- AC Transit (including its subsidiary, Dumbarton Express)
- Golden Gate Transit
Of the two transit agencies currently accepting TransLink, Golden Gate Transit carries a disproportionate number of pilot program cardholders due to active registration efforts at Golden Gate Ferry System terminals (all of which were already fully equipped for TransLink during the pilot program) and due to the complex zone-based fare structure of that agency which allows for neither magnetic stripe farecards nor monthly passes. In addition, TransLink cards can be used at some Caltrain stations, though it is unclear what determines whether the reader at a given station will be functional.
BART is currently conducting a pilot program under the "EZ-Rider" name using similar technology, with the intention of transferring EZ-Rider users to TransLink when that system is fully launched on BART.[3] It is unclear what exactly is the reasoning behind BART's launch of a potentially competing payment system in such close proximity to the full TransLink launch.
TransLink is expected to be rolled out in 2007 at BART, Caltrain, and MUNI,[2] all three of which installed TransLink capability at major stations and lines during the pilot program. BART (at all stations) and Caltrain (on some stations) later disabled their capability to avoid usage when AC Transit and Golden Gate Transit launched TransLink, but the MUNI Metro retained its capability (though this capability is only available to those who participated in the pilot program and not new users).[4] It is expected that BART will allow usage beginning in the summer, MUNI will begin usage in the late fall,[5] and Caltrain will install its readers during this time but will not issue cards until the fall or winter.[6] It is unclear whether other cardholders will be allowed to use TransLink during the intervening time. Rollout will then, in 2008, proceed to cover the VTA network, part of which participated in the pilot program, and the SamTrans bus network, which did not participate in the pilot program at all.[2] Finally, WHEELS, Tri-Delta Transit, WestCAT, County Connection and other smaller transit agencies which did not participate in the pilot program are expected to install TransLink on their bus lines in 2009 or later.[2]
Important transit agencies that will not install TransLink capability include Amtrak and the Altamont Commuter Express (ACE), both of which provide rail links between Fremont and San Jose. Some VTA bus lines serving this corridor, however, have been TransLink-equipped since the start of the pilot program.
[edit] Technical Problems
During the first phase of the expansion (AC Transit and Golden Gate), AC Transit experienced technical difficulties on a large portion of its fleet, and delayed the mailing of the free TransLink cards that it had planned to give to its pre-launch testers.[7] Golden Gate Transit, which actually uses a more complex zone-based fare structure (though it does not use monthly passes), was not affected and it is unclear what effect this will have on the expansion to BART, MUNI and Caltrain planned for this year.
AC Transit mailed TransLink cards to its pre-launch testers in early February, 2007, apparently having overcome these technical problems.[8]
[edit] Technology
TransLink cards have a dual interface: electrical contacts on the face of the card, and an antenna wire which runs in a ring around the edge of the card. The contact interface is based on ISO 7810, and the RFID interface is based on ISO 14443. BART EZ-Rider cards look similar, but in fact lack the contact interface.
[edit] References
- ^ About Translink, retrieved on January 26, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e Where To Use Translink, retrieved on January 26, 2007.
- ^ BART EZ Rider Card Pilot Program
- ^ The fellowship of the MTC: One card to ride them all?, Inside Bay Area, 12 February 2007. Retrieved on 14 February 2007.
- ^ Mark in on Your MUNI Calendar,SFist, 21 February 2007., Retrieved on February 22, 2007.
- ^ TransLink delayed for Caltrain, the San Francisco Examiner, 2 February 2007. Retrieved on same.
- ^ Translink trial stalled by AC Transit farebox problems, the San Francisco Examiner, 16 January 2007. Retrieved on January 26, 2007.
- ^ Much-touted TransLink finally hits the transit scene, the Oakland Tribune, 12 February 2007. Retrieved on same.
