The Editor,

Most people who oppose the upcoming SkyTrain fare gates seem to have not realized that part of the reason TransLink and the B.C. MOT want to introduce fare gates is so that integration with the upcoming Compass transit fare-card can be achieved.

The Compass card and the data it obtains from its ability to track the beginning and end points of all transit trips will spawn huge improvements region-wide in transit service optimization and cost-efficiency, and these are what is going to offset the capital and annual costs of the fare gates.

Without the fare gates, there would be no way to figure out what trips occur on SkyTrain and no way to optimize based on those trips. That would be counterproductive, as SkyTrain is a part of so many transit trips in the region.

The Compass card concept is the same concept that has already been introduced on the transit system in Montreal, and is used worldwide in transit systems.

Once the Compass card becomes a part of our transit system, everyone's going to have a better experience on transit here in Metro Vancouver.

Daryl Dela Cruz, Surrey