New cards let disabled use gates without help

TransLink will distribute special temporary access cards to people with disabilities who cannot tap in and out of fare gates, as part of a soft launch for a new hands-free gate access technology.

The transit authority’s board of directors voted on Thursday to authorize TransLink to deliver the radio frequency identification (RFID) access cards — free of charge — to eligible customers. The cards will be valid until Dec. 31, 2018. The board also approved the eligibility criteria and application process for the cards.

“We’re actually really excited about this,” said Geoff Cross, TransLink’s vice-president of policy and planning. “It’s really important to us that we provide seamless access for people with a disability who at some point or another are unable to tap without assistance.”

Shortly after fare gates closed at SkyTrain and SeaBus stations in April 2016, those with disabilities and their advocates were vocal about the fact that those with limited or no use of their arms were unable to get through the fare gates without help because they could not tap in with their Compass cards.

TransLink began working on a solution, and initially planned to install special gates.

However, the authority instead decided to use long-range RFID technology in the existing accessible fare gates.

In May, the technology was installed in an accessible fare gate at Edmonds station, and it was tested in early June. The pilot was then expanded to include Production Way-University and Burrard stations.

When a user with an RFID card approaches the accessible fare gate, a sensor above the gate picks up a signal from the card and opens the gate.

To qualify for a card, a customer will go through an application process that includes completing a form that is reviewed by Access Transit Customer Care and meeting with a third-party health professional contracted by TransLink.