Transit customers on the Sunshine Coast can now use a new electronic system that will improve fare security, reduce fare disputes and collect accurate ridership data. The Sunshine Coast is one of several communities across B.C. that has switched to this new electronic system. The new machines will record data from each fare card, such as product type, boarding time and bus route - valuable data that can be used to help determine future changes or improvements to the local transit system.
"Electronic fareboxes are easy to use for riders and more efficient for drivers," said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Shirley Bond in a news release. "Also, they allow BC Transit to gather important information on ridership trends for future route planning in the Sunshine Coast."
Prior to the installation of the electronic fareboxes, customers simply showed their valid bus pass to the bus driver as proof of payment when boarding a bus. Now, passholders will be asked to swipe their encoded pass at the farebox when boarding a bus for validation. The method of payment remains the same for customers paying by ticket or cash.
Last month, BC Transit launched electronic fareboxes in a number of systems including Central Fraser Valley, Comox Valley, Cowichan Valley and Cowichan Valley Commuter, Kamloops, Kelowna, Kootenay Boundary, Nanaimo, Pemberton, Port Alberni, Prince George and Squamish.
The encoded bus passes are now on sale.
This long-range capital project, budgeted at $6.48 million, will outfit approximately 700 BC Transit vehicles with similar technology. Several other communities will switch to electronic fareboxes later in 2011.
"BC Transit and our local government partners are committed to investing in ways that help build safer, more effective, and more efficient transit systems," said Manuel Achadinha, President and CEO of BC Transit.
The electronic fareboxes were purchased from Quebec-based Garival Incorporated, Canadian sales representatives for GFI Genfare, a leading maker of bus fare collection systems in North America.
For more information about any BC Transit system, visit www.bctransit.com.
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