What can Calgary learn from 2 cities that embraced transit turnstiles?
CBC
St. Louis just committed to spending $52 million US to install gates or turnstiles at its transit stations, and many Calgarians point to Vancouver as a success story because it restricted access to its stations in 2016.
Cities across the world have taken this step, and now Calgary's city council is studying the feasibility. But talk with those in charge in other cities and the benefits aren't always as clear as they seem at first glance.
In St. Louis, the turnstiles are actually more about "curb appeal," says Taulby Roach, president of Bi-State Development, which is in charge of St. Louis's MetroLink.
"People have asked me, is this just a fancy marketing plan? Honestly, I say yes."
CBC Calgary called St. Louis because many people in Calgary say turnstiles are the solution to social disorder, drug use and crime at CTrain stations. It's been the most popular solution proposed by the hundreds of transit riders texting in for our project on transit safety.
But other transit riders doubt it will live up to its promise — they say it won't be effective without increased enforcement and/or it will just push the issues beyond the transit boundary.
So here's what we learned from St. Louis and Vancouver.
MetroLink in St. Louis is struggling with the same ridership and drug issues that Calgary has. MetroLink's ridership is down to 60 per cent from pre-pandemic levels; Calgary is at 65 per cent.
St. Louis's $52-million security project will upgrade the security cameras and install fare gates at 38 light rail stations. Calgary has 42 stations and council was told for years it could cost $400 million for a similar upgrade.
In St. Louis, the push for fare gates actually started with private business. The area's Regional Business Council (made up of companies like Enterprise, Centene and World Wide Technology) put up $10.7 million to install gates.
For them, it was self-interest, says Roach.
"They are trying to attract the best talent to run their companies, and when the region is perceived as being safe — as being progressive and looking at new ideas and always improving — obviously they benefit as well."
Roach says the gates are more about public perception than actually reducing fare evasion, since already more than nine in 10 passengers pay.
But to rebuild ridership, "I need to be sure the curb appeal of my system is right on top of everybody's mind," he said.