Compass Cards take over from paper monthly transit passes by New Year

The next phase of TransLink's rollout of the long-awaited Compass Cards takes effect Jan. 1, after which paper monthly passes will no longer be accepted.

• Compass Cardrolloutmeans end of paper monthly passes

Beginning Friday, transit users must load their monthly passes onto the new cards. Soon after that, FareSaver tickets will also be phased out, althoughTransLink hasn't set a date yet to stop selling Faresavers.

"If you are travelling with the monthly pass, you will need to have a Compass card and load the monthly pass onto the Compass Card," said TransLink spokesperson Jennifer Morland.

Sales brisk for Compass cards: Translink

In Vancouver, there were lineups at the Stadium station Tuesday as transit users lined up to purchase their Compass cards.

Many users were confused about the the new card's timeline.

So far, about 375,000 transit users have purchased the new cards. TransLink is selling between 1,000 and 2,000 cards per day at this point, Morland said.

The new cards require a $6 deposit. Once purchased, users can load up "stored value" to pay for a monthly pass or individual rides.

You can order the card online or by phone, or buy it from:

• Vending machines at SkyTrain, SeaBus and West Coast Express stations
• BC Ferries terminals in Horseshoe Bay and Tsawwassen
• 18 London Drugs stores
• "FareDealer" convenience stores