‘Growing pains’ for fare boxes
‘In the long run, it should be a faster system,’ transit official says
WATERLOO REGION — Grand River Transit is experiencing some “growing pains” with its new electronic fare boxes as the service transitions from the old to new payment system.
“In the long run, it should be a faster system,” said Peter Zinck, assistant director of transit services for the Region of Waterloo. “The fare transaction will be more accurate and quicker.” But, for now, it’s slowing things down a bit. “The transfer printing time has been slower than we like,” Zinck said.
Grand River Transit is working to speed that up from the current seven seconds. In the meantime, drivers can hand out the old-style transfers if there are a few passengers waiting to board.
Grand River Transit has been hearing from people that the system is slower, but not that it is causing late buses or missed connections. Waiting a few seconds for a transfer to print seems more tedious than a driver ripping off a slip and handing it over.
“There is a frustration there,” Zinck said. “I’m not sure it’s affecting our system broadly.”
Electronic fare boxes have been installed on all the buses, with exception of those slated for retirement, and tap cards are currently being tested by staff.
Soon that test will expand to small groups and student passes at Wilfrid Laurier University. The cards are expected to be available to the general public early next year. “The tap will be much quicker,” Zinck said. Currently, more than 70 per cent of riders have passes, and the smaller number of people paying cash for their fare is expected to go down even more once the cards are widely available.