The Compass card is a contactless smart card automated fare collection system used primarily for public transit in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Compass card readers were first implemented as a beta in September 2013. Due to delays, full implementation to the general public began in August 2015. The system is operated by Cubic Transportation Systems and is managed by TransLink, the transportation authority for the region.

Compass cards and tickets have been required for all trips taken by SkyTrain, SeaBus, and West Coast Express since April 8, 2016. By June 2016, TransLink reported that more than 915,000 customers had switched to using Compass, which included 95% of customers who could have used other fare media such as cash or paper-based FareSaver tickets.

Riders are able to purchase Compass cards and add fare value online, by phone, or at Compass vending machines located at SeaBus terminals, SkyTrain stations, and West Coast Express stations. Compass vending machines are also available at 18 participating London Drugs retail store locations.

Overview

Users start by obtaining a Compass card, which requires a refundable deposit, from one of the Compass vending machines located at SkyTrain, SeaBus, or West Coast Express stations, then add value to the card online, by phone, or directly at the vending machines. Compass cards are also available for purchase online, at London Drugs retail locations, and at various convenience stores.

TransLink estimated that 80,000 users were using the system by the end of January 2014. As of June 2016, Compass cards had been tapped on the system more than 371million times, at a rate of more than 1.5million every weekday. TransLink recorded a ridership increase of 1.8 percent and 3.2 percent in increased fare revenues in 2015, according to its 2015 annual report.

Fares

Transit riders will have the option of paying for fares by Compass card or cash, but the Compass card offers lower fares. A rider who makes a cash payment at a Compass vending machine receives a paper-based Compass Ticket which is good for transfers within the 90-minute transfer period (180 minutes for West Coast Express).

Nearly half of TransLink's revenues come from fares. TransLink uses a three-zone fare system in the region for SkyTrain, Canada Line, West Coast Express and SeaBus service, with single adult fares ranging from $2.85 to $5.60 on weekdays. All fares on buses across the region are set at the one zone rate of $2.85, a switch TransLink made during the roll out of the Compass contactless smart card payment system.

Users purchase a Compass card for a $6 refundable deposit, then load it with stored value. The $6 deposit can be used temporarily if a rider forgets to maintain enough stored value, but the value on the card must be replenished above $6 before the next trip or they will not be able to tap in.

Stored value

The following tables illustrates single trip fares during peak and off-peak hours for bus, SeaBus, and SkyTrain riders.

SeaBus and SkyTrain (weekdays from start of service until 6:30pm) Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 YVR AddFare Adult $2.85 $4.20 $5.40 +$6.50 Concession $2.30 $3.40 $4.60 +$6.50 Buses (all day); SeaBus and SkyTrain (weekdays after 6:30pm,weekends, and holidays) All zones YVR AddFare Adult $2.85 +$6.50 Concession $2.30 +$6.50

Users must maintain a minimum of $0.01 value on the card to tap into buses, SkyTrain, or SeaBus, and a minimum of $4.50 to tap into West Coast Express.

Other passes DayPasses, U-Passes, and one-, two-, or three-zone monthly passes can be loaded directly onto the Compass card, with the option to renew automatically every month. Users who register online benefit from the auto renewal and balance protection, which protects the stored value in the event of card loss or theft. Passes are used prior to Stored Value being used.

History

SkyTrain and SeaBus were barrier-free at their inception. BC Transit, and later TransLink, took the position that the barrier-free proof of payment system was more effective than having fare gates or turnstiles. In the early 2000s, they estimated a five percent fare evasion rate on SkyTrain, or approximately or less per year. Fare checks and fines issued inside Fare Paid Zones kept the rates at that level. Since the staff conducting the checks – SkyTrain attendants and transit police – would still be required even with physical fare barriers, maintaining a barrier fare system would be more costly than the barrier-free option.

In late 2007, the provincial Minister of Transportation, Kevin Falcon, announced interest in the installation of an access-controlled fare system.

In March 2008, Ken Dobell, a lobbyist for Cubic Corporation, started talks with Falcon with the intention of selling technology to TransLink. Dobell, BC premier Gordon Campbell's former deputy minister and previously the first CEO of TransLink, had just been found guilty of breaching the Lobbyists Registration Act.

In April 2009, the Office of the Premier, the Government of Canada, and TransLink announced the implementation of fare gates and smart cards.

In 2010, TransLink held a contest to decide the name of the smart card system. The contest received 56,000 entries with 14,000 unique names. The four finalists from the public contest were Otter, Umbrella, Compass, and George (named after George Vancouver). In January 2011, TransLink ran an online poll where participants could vote between the names Compass, TPass, and Starfish, with the latter two being introduced by TransLink. Compass was announced as the winner on March 31, 2011.

In September 2013, the Compass card system underwent a 3-week beta test phase to evaluate its functionality and user-friendliness. Selected beta testers received a Compass card loaded with $100 that could be tapped in and out, but these were not considered a valid payment of one's fare. As a result, testers were required to carry an additional valid FareSaver ticket.

The Compass Card system was launched in August 2015 as part of an initial transition phase. During this transition phase, users could still purchase and use FareSaver tickets, with fare gates at SeaBus and SkyTrain stations remaining opened. Initially, users were required to tap their card upon exiting a bus to track the number of fare zones travelled. However, in October 2015, buses were designated as a single fare zone, eliminating the need for a tap-out system on buses—a change that, while initially temporary, became permanent.

In late October 2015, cards became available from Compass vending machines at London Drugs stores. The transition phase ended on April 4, 2016, with fare gates closing and Compass cards being required to enter Seabus and SkyTrain stations.

In August 2022, TransLink announced they were working on allowing Compass cards to be stored in digital wallets; however, they noted the feature could take years to implement.

Modernization plans In November 2025, TransLink sent out a request for proposal for the modernization of the Compass system. The agency revealed that the current setup under operator Cubic has a number of technical limitations that were hindering the possibility of implementing distance-based fares as well as the implementation of a dedicated smartphone app. Earlier that month, TransLink rejected a proposal from Cubic to continue its role as the incumbent contractor. The new system's cost was estimated at $507million.

Card variants

Several limited edition versions of the Compass card, including non-card form factors, have been produced by TransLink and sold at certain locations or to commemorate events. These items have frequently been resold on other markets by scalpers at a higher price.

Variants Design Fare type Availability Notes Adult Adult fare (19 to 64) Available at any Compass vending machine including select London Drugs locations Concession Concession fare HandyCard holders Seniors 65+ Youth 13 to 18 with photo ID Can only be bought at Compass retailers, the TransLink Customer Service Centre at Waterfront station, online, or by telephone Children under 12 ride free Compass ticket Adult fare (one-time use) Available at any Compass vending machine Despite being paper-based, they are not recyclable due to the smartcard circuitry laminate between the paper. Concession fare (one-time use) GradPass Unlimited travel (1 day) Given to secondary school students during their graduation Personalized program passes Red and white Varies BC Bus Pass Program clients Access Transit/HandyDART card