It will take a period of sustained and demonstrated improvement before ETS win back myself and others to the bus system.
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Arc Smart Fare System
- Thread starter Daveography
- Start date
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- Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Not surprised...
edmontonjournal.com
Edmonton's transit smart fare system delayed again due to COVID-19 pandemic
Testing of Edmonton’s long-awaited transit smart fare payment system has been delayed again as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
edmontonjournal.com
cliffapotamus
Active Member
so it looks like the delay is the installers can't cross the border from the US, meaning they can't come here and do the work? Is that the only holdup? i don't understand what the big issue is? no one in Canada can do this?
Member Bio
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2015
- Messages
- 10,218
- Reaction score
- 23,061
- Location
- Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
@cliffapotamus Not if a) the US company is contracted to do it, and/or b) the expertise with the system we've chosen does not exist in Canada, no.
cliffapotamus
Active Member
@Daveography rationally i understand that. but it still seems like a comedy-of-errors situation. I reaaaallly hope this covid thing is the only hangup. we need this done so ETS can improve service (and get its hands on all that sweet, sweet ridership data for route planning!) trying not to be a malcontent.
Others likely could, but it is probably a proprietary system and the city is probably under contractual obligation with the company. I doubt they can break the contract easily.
Platinum107
Senior Member
I don't know about you guys, but having a contract with a large municipality to carry out a project this big seems like a pretty essential reason to cross the border. It isn't like the contractors are going for a vacation, this is actual important work!
Smart cards aren't supporting critical infrastructure. They are incremental improvements at best. Full rules for cross border travel here:
List of Acts and Regulations - Canada.ca
List of Acts and Regulations - Acts and Regulations
Aaron_Lloyd
Active Member
Took a 7 and a 128 bus today, both had the smart card hardware installed (1 at the front door, 2 at the rear door). First time I've seen it.
Platinum107
Senior Member
Smart cards aren't supporting critical infrastructure. They are incremental improvements at best. Full rules for cross border travel here:
List of Acts and Regulations - Canada.ca
List of Acts and Regulations - Acts and Regulationswww.canada.ca
I understand that the rules say otherwise, and I guess should clarify that I was speaking more out my general frustration with this than out of a super logical position. there's just something about this delay situation that grinds my gears is all.
Edmcowboy11
Senior Member
After reading that latest article I do wonder bout the reasons for not hiring a Canadian company. Also though, how many techs would they need to have here to install the test system.
One other thing too though, he article said they will conduct more lab testing to ensure the system will properly work, is this not a proven system already or is ETS trying out an unproven system from a company that says they can deliver a functioning product? Hmmm where have I heard that similar storyline and was that story a success for ETS?
One other thing too though, he article said they will conduct more lab testing to ensure the system will properly work, is this not a proven system already or is ETS trying out an unproven system from a company that says they can deliver a functioning product? Hmmm where have I heard that similar storyline and was that story a success for ETS?
Edmcowboy11
Senior Member
So anyone hear any updates on the smart card launch?
The_Cat
Senior Member
Discounted transit fee for smart card users?
edmontonjournal.com
City of Edmonton pursuing discounted transit fee for smart card users as cash fare set to increase in May
Currently sitting at $3.50, the single-trip cash fare is scheduled to spike to $3.75 in May and again to $4 in 2022
edmontonjournal.com
thommyjo
Senior Member
Less a discount, more a "you won't have to pay more in future".Discounted transit fee for smart card users?
City of Edmonton pursuing discounted transit fee for smart card users as cash fare set to increase in May
Currently sitting at $3.50, the single-trip cash fare is scheduled to spike to $3.75 in May and again to $4 in 2022
cliffapotamus
Active Member
^^^ why are fares going up? $4 is way too much for a bus. I thought BNR was supposed to improve efficiency to reduce subsidy. this price increase ought to be unnecessary.