Turnstiles coming to SkyTrain next year

The honour system for using Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain system will come to an end with the introduction of fare turnstiles at each station next year.

Commuters will have to swipe valid transit tickets or use a transit smartcard loaded with moneyto pay fares.

The provincial and federal governments, along with TransLink, will spend $100 million to install the gates and introduce the smart cards.

The project will improve safety on the transit system and reduce fare-evasion, PremierGordon Campbell said Thursday in Vancouver.

Construction of the fare gates is expected to begin in the spring of 2010 at about 49 stations.

Currently, commuters can walk onto the platforms at stations without having to prove they have paid the fare, but transit police do conduct random checks for tickets.