IllumiBARTi Bonus: Win Big In Our Conspiracy Theory Contest

I'll do this for fun; and if I'm the only person with a theories, I don't want to win by default.

I believe BART wants to continue delaying implementation of Translink because:

1: While Translink cards can be replaced and the balance given back to the new card, lost and stolen BART magnetic tickets can't be credited to a new ticket and BART makes money on their "float."

2: The sassyness of James Fang, the man who called Translink obsolete, but also spent $350,000 on a cell phone RFID program that is doomed to fail. People don't want to be locked-in with certain cell phones, contracts, and possible service charges by the carrier.

3: Rival technologies. Before Cubic (BART's gate manufacturers) purchased ERG (the firm that makes Translink and similar programs like ORCA), the two companies were rivals in the electronic fare card markets. Cubic got the contract to build BART's gates and rendering ERG helpless to install technology on the new gates; this is why EZrider was created since it runs on Cubic's card technology. During the term of EZrider, this meant Translink can't move forward. But now that Cubic bought ERG, it could mean potential or disaster.

The hold up seems to be the logistics of installing a Translink on the front door of every house and apartment unit in the Bay Area. When that's done, you won't need to show your ID to the police who are accusing you of breaking into your own residence, just swipe your Translink card and it's all fixed.

It sure beats having to have a beer with Gavin or Dellums.

A company called ERG was the MTC contractor who originally deployed Translink years late and hundreds of millions of dollars over budget. Translink has been plagued with software problems, hardware glitches and reconciliation issues. Even today, the Translink system does not give agencies the revenue they are owed from Translink transactions. Everyone on the inside knows this, but for obvious reasons MTC is not inclined to go even further over budget to resolve reconciliation issues that always seem to be in their favor.

Cubic recently acquired Translink operations from a floundering ERG after ERG caused a shitstorm by defaulting on another smart card deployment in Australia. BART and Muni were probably thankful because both agencies have a long-standing relationship with Cubic.

Ironically BART pushed for Cubic to run Translink at the start back around 1991, but MTC selected Motorola/ERG mostly because they wanted total control over a smart card contractor who had no allegiances with BART. It was an understandable move, but ultimately the wrong one.

Up until Cubic's purchase of ERG in July, BART was always quick to talk up Translink failures and blame Cubic rival ERG. Now that Cubic is in charge, that blame game would poison a critical business relationship.

BART is completely beholden to Cubic to keep their fare system up and running, and no one there wants awkward golf and steak orgies in San Diego (where Cubic is headquartered). That's why you don't hear BART talking anymore about the Translink problems that continue to delay their launch. Some of those problems ERG passed on, others BART and Cubic created. Regardless they're all Cubic problems now.

And since BART is staying quiet in Cubic's pocket, MTC will continue to talk up BART's revenue readyness to keep up the pressure to deploy. MTC is also hoping this new dynamic will allow help them sweep Translink's problems under the rug once and for all.