If, like me, you use one of the various card-based RTD pass options, then the process of using it with any of the city’s rail options should bother you.
Currently, fare payment for rail is a two-step process that requires you to validate your RTD pass at a kiosk on or near the train platform before boarding and then once more upon boarding with a train security person doubling as a fare inspector. Security personnel on trains carry a handheld device (think of the handheld scanners used at grocery checkouts) that is placed against your pass to read it and return a message indicating whether or not the pass is valid. I assume of course that there is a good reason for this but, for the average rider using a pass, the logic isn’t readily apparent and can be frustrating.
I have asked multiple RTD fare inspectors why this is and the closest I’ve gotten to a good answer is that the kiosk outside the train time-stamps the pass.
That riders of Denver’s rail system have to get out their passes no less than twice during a one-way trip seems silly and I’ve not come across any other transit system that works like that (except for a random audit of tickets and passes on, say, the New York City BRT system). This may not be a deterrent to rail ridership in Denver, but it’s a hassle that doesn’t make a lot of sense on its face.
Streamlining this clunky process would mean that fare inspection or validation occurs just once on the train using the device that security staff already carry with them and use to validate the validation. Admittedly, that could be costly if it means placing additional burden on RTD train operations to staff up and handle fare checks. In my experience on the A line, it’s a safe bet that you’ll have to show your pass soon after boarding, meaning that security staff already consistently ask passengers to show their fare anyway.
Here at DenverUrbanism we’re focused on not just the big issues but the small ones as well—this goes in the smaller-problem bucket. I’m in favor of an alternative fare payment system for rail in Denver where the platform validation kiosks are removed to streamline the payment and payment-validation process. It may not be a problem right now, but in a scenario where ridership sees significant increases, RTD will want to analyze areas for process improvement and this is one of them.
Has the author traveled at all? This is a pretty standard proof of payment system that’s pretty common. The only difference is that the A Line has more frequent fare enforcement, probably related to making sure that RTD gets its high airport fare. The light rail has the same system but with far less fare enforcement.
Similar systems are used in Seattle, Caltrain, LA light rail, MARC, St Louis, and Salt Lake City off the top of my head. Of those, Seattle and MARC have fare checks pretty often on the train, similar to the A Line. The alternative would be fare gates, which are pretty expensive to install and maintain.
But if you have an Ecopass which is good 24/7, why validate it before getting on the train? I think that is the author’s point. I fully support the fare inspection on board. The inspector doesn’t know I have an Ecopass in my pocket so they ask to see it and scan it if they want to confirm i have a valid fare. It seems the only reason to validate an Ecopass before boarding is for data collection purposes by RTD in the event my pass isn’t scanned while on board. By validating before boarding, they have a record of my trip whether my fare is scanned on-board or not.
They want an accurate count of ridership to justify routes and timing of trains. If everyone with an ecopass just waited for a fare check instead of validating at every use, the ridership count would decrease dramatically and some routes could be cancelled or have fewer trains.
True, and I agree with your idea that the validation kiosks are inconveniently placed. Having an option on board or right at the yellow boarding strip would be a lot more convenient!
Agreed. I had heard that the current system is a result of cost savings for not installing turnstiles and fencing at all stations. At the least they could put the beepers closer to the trains so that you’re not searching for one while your train is pulling away.
This seems like an exaggeration to generate some content. I disagree with this blog post.
Thanks sincerely for the comment, Eric. When thinking about what to write about I will sometimes ask myself what bothers me or feels inefficient about my transit experience. What that can translate into are rather specific comments about a narrow slice of what it means to live with our region’s transportation system. In other words, there’s no exaggerating here – just trying to strike the right balance between my own experiences and that of others.
Well most people do not have an Ecopass. The kiosk is to validate, and the train guy is there to check that people have paid fares, plain and simple, not to validate it. It’s like that on trains and buses in Europe as well: buy a ticket, board the train, and have someone make sure that you so have a valid pass. I have a myride card and the only way to ensure payment each time and having a valid ticket is to hit the kiosk outside the train. There is not usually a person on the train (except the A-line) that checks to make sure it is a valid ticket, thus it doesn’t make sense to only have that guy validate tickets. They want an accurate count of ridership, thus ask those with ecopasses to validate before boarding.
I agree that the kiosk outside is burdensome, but only because they are not always in convenient locations before boarding trains. It would be better if there were validation options ON the train, so you don’t have to go out of your way to get to the validating kiosk, especially if your train is arriving and you’re running to catch it!
This system makes no sense! I’ve lived in three other major cities and you swipe your pass before you board the train and call it a day. If RTD is always trying to make cuts to save money, how about not employing people to check fares on the train and just make people pay before getting on? I used to work at the airport and when I was on the train trying to get my last bit of rest before work, I was always interrupted by someone checking my fare AGAIN. So effing annoying! The stupid part is that outside of the airport train, they rarely check your fare, which is dumb on their part because it leaves the system wide open for people to ride for free. In 2019, they need to get rid of this archaic BS!