a few comments

here is a comment i sent to bart today (please excuse the grammatical and spelling errors - i was in a hurry):
i don't understand the difficulty in having one card for all transit systems in the bay area. washington d.c.'s metro (bus and trains) already uses a smart card. whats wrong with things at bart and other transit systems in the bay area...? we are supposed to be ahead of the country in most instances, but it seems like we are far behind. its very frustrating. also, you don't have to have automatic deductions to use the smart card. you can refill it by touching an electronic marker (similar use as the ez rider card when exiting bart faregates). for example, you tap a paper ticket (looks exactly like a bart ticket) with funds on the marker, and then you tap the smart card on the marker. the money is transferred from the ticket to the smart card. or you can add money the old fashion way (refilling it with credit card or cash). employers even load their employees cards (there would be no more need for paper commuter checks). d.c. has been using this technology for so long. why can't transit systems here catch up? oh, is it because the agencies are run by different cities, counties, governmental agencies? i catch bart and ac transit daily. why is it so difficult? two different cards (if i even get past the waitlists and pilot programs), two different accounts...
do you agree? do you understand my frustration?
I could not agree more with
Submitted by PPID911 on Thu, 08/23/2007 - 10:10pm.
I could not agree more with you! Your frustration is quite justified. For TransLink, users can add value OR have autoload their card for eCash (for use on one agency or inter agency) or load a transit operator monthly pass or ticket onto it. It can be done automatically (monthly or when the eCash falls below the threshold, a la EZRider) or by going to a retailer (there are quite a few) or by going to an Add Value machine, located in transit operator offices and at the SF Transbay Terminal.
TransLink really is a great product and I encourage everyone to get it, even if it doesn't work on BART yet it is pretty handy on AC and Dumbarton and Golden Gate Ferry and Bus. They have great customer service and I use my card once or twice a week if I take AC or the ferry. Quite convenient and well worth it.
The website to learn more about it: http://translink.org
ALSO! I will post a new TransLink survey later tonight. Be sure to fill it