Comments on: TransLink: it’s no FasTrak

By: Ruthh

Ruthh — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 06:11:29 +0000

For the past two years, I have commuted daily during the week. I usually use the Cash/FasTrak Lane, and I have never, not once, failed to pay my toll or violated the FasTrak, yet, I recently got a ticket because the toll attendant failed to push the necessary button indicating that I had paid. I believe this occurred on a morning when the toll attendant got angry because he dropped one of the four $1 bills I handed him. In retaliation, he failed to push the button to indicate that I paid my toll. I do not owe this money, but I do not know what to do. The only way they will dismiss the ticket is if I sign-up for FasTrak,which I do not want!

By: timote

timote — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 06:26:40 +0000

TransLinkInsider Says:
“As for the Transbay/Local switch, please check the reader display before tagging.”

This one I don’t like – the machine switches back and forth on messages, one lists the current fare and one says something else like “tag your card here”, I forget. The problem is that there is a few second delay on each, so if you hop on at the wrong time you’re supposed to just stand there like an idiot with people behind you waiting to see if the fare is right?

I’ve had drivers be unhappy at me (not majorly) cause of the reverse – they charged me local for a transbay cause they forgot to set the machine. Sorry, not much I can do about it once I tag the card…

By: Capricious Commuter

Capricious Commuter — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 13:55:43 +0000

No TV. Wow. Then how do you watch “The Daily Show?”

By: david vartanoff

david vartanoff — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 05:59:59 +0000

As I have no TV 9 years now… I believe I read about it on SubChat and THINK it was referenced to NY news media.

By: Capricious Commuter

Capricious Commuter — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 02:53:04 +0000

David, are you sure that wasn’t just in an episode of “Law and Order?”

By: david vartanoff

david vartanoff — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 00:51:30 +0000

indeed a record of use took a day or so to obtain, but as it only indicates agency and date it is difficult to track actual billing because no route # or time of day is provided although translink must have this data. In NYC the MetroCard record is sufficient to have exonerated someone who was able to show he was on the subway at the time of an alleged crime.

By: John T

John T — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 20:06:41 +0000

When I became a demonstration rider, it did suprise me that monthly statements aren’t issued. You can request a 30 day transaction history via email, but I think that it should operate like FasTrak in sending a monthly statement via email. That can’t be much of a programming difference, but it would certainly help.

By: Scott Mace

Scott Mace — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:09:05 +0000

Not all bus drivers let you ride for free. Be prepared to pony up cash when they demand it. This happened to me, and I’m sure is happening to others.

By: TransLinkInsider

TransLinkInsider — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:21:41 +0000

The TransLink card keeps a record of customer transactions in order to calculate the correct fare. For example, if a cardholder tags once on an AC Transit bus paying full fare ($1.75), and then rides again within a set timeframe, the system will charge the cardholder the transfer rate ($.25). The same would be true for interagency transfers between different transit agencies per their business rules. This includes all the wackiness of BART/Muni transfers. The data is stored on the card; when the bus pulls into the yard, the data is uploaded to the back-end so that the back-end matches the info on the card.

As for the Transbay/Local switch, please check the reader display before tagging.

By: Capricious Commuter

Capricious Commuter — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 18:51:38 +0000

That may be one of TranLink’s biggest selling points right now, Brian. Free rides whenever something doesn’t quite work. I’d be intereste to hear from AC Transit or MTC about these types of multiple-ride fare issues.

And Doug, if you do ride two local buses and transbay bus within 90 minutes (a good trick), how are your fares supposed to be calculated?