GTA Farecard
Encyclopedia
The Presto Card is a smartcard-based fare payment system for public transit systems in Southern Ontario
, including those in the metropolitan region of the Greater Toronto Area
and the cities of Ottawa
and Hamilton
. The system was trialled from June 25, 2007 to September 30, 2008. Full implementation began in November 2009 and will be rolled out across the province in stages. Presto is an operating division of Metrolinx, the Ontario
government agency
that manages and integrates road transport
and public transport
ation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area
.
(MTO), together with GO Transit, Ottawa’s OC Transpo, and eight municipal transit partners within the GTHA undertook the design and development of a seamless regional transit farecard system (Presto) based on contactless (“Smartcard”) technology. Implementation is now the responsibility of Metrolinx, of which Presto became an operating division in 2011.
The Presto system is designed to support the use of one common farecard for fare payment on the various participating public transit systems. Presto will allow customers to ride on any participating transit system without pre-purchasing tickets or passes and without needing to know the fare policies of each system in advance. The Presto card, which is the size of a gift or debit card, will use “stored-value” in the form of a common electronic purse (e-Purse) as the medium for all fare payment transactions in addition to cash. Electronic readers will scan the customer’s Presto card (which contains a passive RFID chip within the card) as they board their public transit vehicle or enter a station calculating the correct fare and deducting it from their card balance - all within one-third of a second. Unlike paper tickets or passes, the card is made of durable plastic for extended use. The system will also allow customers the choice of loading their Presto card with cash value via preauthorized (autoload) payments, by telephone, Internet and at selected retails outlets. Customers with “registered” cards will be able to replace the value on a lost or stolen card, unlike tickets, tokens, passes or cash.
The Presto system will provide transit participants with centralized farecard procurement, initialization and distribution, reporting services, revenue clearing and settlement, customer call centre and Internet services, maintenance and support and Third Party Sales Agency Management.
The Presto system will provide the following customer and transit system benefits:
The following transit service providers use or are scheduled to use Presto:
to Union Station
in downtown Toronto
received a free card and tried the system under a trial termed "Launch 1".Mississauga has a neighbourhood shuttle service in Meadowvale and Cooksville to transport passengers to GO Transit. Consequently, officials thought it would be the perfect environment to test the fare system. During the Launch 1 trial, the Presto card could be used at:
The Launch 1 trial concluded September 30, 2008.
Stage 1 includes Oakville, Bronte and Union GO Stations, TTC Union Station Subway, and ten Oakville Transit buses on three routes.
and is working with Presto in addressing the TTC’s business requirements for “full” system participation. An initial funding allocation of $140 million has been earmarked by the provincial and federal governments and the City of Toronto; however, the TTC has estimated in its 2009-2013 budget that the project would take $365 million to complete. At a provincial funding announcement in March 2011, it was also revealed that Presto was, indeed, to become the TTC's fare card of choice, though details of financing are still to be worked out.
in downtown Toronto and Toronto Pearson International Airport
in the City of Mississauga is also expected to use the system.
The fact that the Presto card works on multiple transit systems is only one of its advantages:
Other Presto Card fare notes:
Most transit agencies will not issue transfers on Presto Card fares. However, paper transfers may still be issued in the following cases:
As the Presto Card is meant to replace paper transfers, local transit operators have generally adopted the Presto card's transfer policies in their paper transfers (in the sense that, with the exception of the TTC, all local operators accept each others' transfers, and will not reissue transfers originally issued by other local operators), except that the transfer window is 2 hours instead of the 2 1/2 provided by the Presto Card.
It is not known how Presto Card transfers will be done between OC Transpo
and Société de transport de l'Outaouais
and the extent of integration between the Presto Card and the STO's existing Passe-Partout PLUS (including the STO-OC Transpo Rider card) smart card system. However, it is known that STO has upgraded their system so that the Presto Card will also be accepted on STO buses once OC Transpo has implemented the Presto Card, for the convenience of OC Transpo passengers.
Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario is a region of the province of Ontario, Canada that lies south of the French River and Algonquin Park. Depending on the inclusion of the Parry Sound and Muskoka districts, its surface area would cover between 14 to 15% of the province. It is the southernmost region of...
, including those in the metropolitan region of the Greater Toronto Area
Greater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
and the cities of Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
. The system was trialled from June 25, 2007 to September 30, 2008. Full implementation began in November 2009 and will be rolled out across the province in stages. Presto is an operating division of Metrolinx, the Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
government agency
Government agency
A government or state agency is a permanent or semi-permanent organization in the machinery of government that is responsible for the oversight and administration of specific functions, such as an intelligence agency. There is a notable variety of agency types...
that manages and integrates road transport
Road transport
Road transport or road transportation is transport on roads of passengers or goods. A hybrid of road transport and ship transport is the historic horse-drawn boat.-History:...
and public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
ation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area
Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area
The Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area is composed of the metropolitan areas of the Canadian cities of Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario. The GTHA includes the census metropolitan areas of Toronto, Hamilton and Oshawa....
.
Background
The Ontario Ministry of TransportationMinistry of Transportation (Ontario)
The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario is the provincial ministry of the government of Ontario which is responsible for transport infrastructure and related law in Ontario. The ministry traces its roots back over a century to the 1890s, when the province began training Provincial Road Building...
(MTO), together with GO Transit, Ottawa’s OC Transpo, and eight municipal transit partners within the GTHA undertook the design and development of a seamless regional transit farecard system (Presto) based on contactless (“Smartcard”) technology. Implementation is now the responsibility of Metrolinx, of which Presto became an operating division in 2011.
The Presto system is designed to support the use of one common farecard for fare payment on the various participating public transit systems. Presto will allow customers to ride on any participating transit system without pre-purchasing tickets or passes and without needing to know the fare policies of each system in advance. The Presto card, which is the size of a gift or debit card, will use “stored-value” in the form of a common electronic purse (e-Purse) as the medium for all fare payment transactions in addition to cash. Electronic readers will scan the customer’s Presto card (which contains a passive RFID chip within the card) as they board their public transit vehicle or enter a station calculating the correct fare and deducting it from their card balance - all within one-third of a second. Unlike paper tickets or passes, the card is made of durable plastic for extended use. The system will also allow customers the choice of loading their Presto card with cash value via preauthorized (autoload) payments, by telephone, Internet and at selected retails outlets. Customers with “registered” cards will be able to replace the value on a lost or stolen card, unlike tickets, tokens, passes or cash.
The Presto system will provide transit participants with centralized farecard procurement, initialization and distribution, reporting services, revenue clearing and settlement, customer call centre and Internet services, maintenance and support and Third Party Sales Agency Management.
The Presto system will provide the following customer and transit system benefits:
- A common means for all fare payments;
- Faster system boarding to improve transit efficiencies;
- Support seamless transit service in the GTHA and across Ontario;
- Provide a simple and convenient payment option that reduce monthly line-ups;
- Enhanced security for the protection of value on lost or stolen cards;
- Improved convenience translated to increased transit use addressing congestion and environmental concerns;
- Provide a standardized technology platform; and
- Potential extension of Presto concept to other services, such as parking, and municipal services, joint ventures.
Participating service providers
- GO TransitGO TransitGO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
- Oakville TransitOakville TransitOakville Transit is the public transportation provider in Oakville, Ontario, Canada since 1972. It is a department of the town, and a member of the Canadian Urban Transit Association. It offers the typical conventional bus service, and a para-transit service, called care-A-van, for those unable to...
- Burlington TransitBurlington TransitBurlington Transit is the public transport provider in the city of Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Services began in September 1975, after the city had been served by neighbouring systems including Hamilton Street Railway , and former subsidiary Canada Coach Lines, as well as "local" services to and...
- Brampton TransitBrampton TransitBrampton Transit is public transport bus operator for the City of Brampton in the Regional Municipality of Peel, and within the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada. Brampton Transit began operations in 1974....
- MiWay (Mississauga Transit)
- Hamilton Street RailwayHamilton Street RailwayThe Hamilton Street Railway Company is the Transit Division of the City of Hamilton, Public Works Department in Ontario, Canada. The name is a legacy of the days when the majority of public transit vehicles were streetcars; the present-day Hamilton Street Railway is in fact a bus operator...
- York Region TransitYork Region TransitYork Region Transit is the public transit operator in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Its headquarters are in Richmond Hill, at 50 High Tech Road....
/VivaViva (bus rapid transit)Viva is a bus rapid transit service operating in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Viva service is integrated with York Region Transit's local bus service to operate as one regional transit system providing seamless transit service across York Region and connections to northern Toronto.Viva was... - Durham Region TransitDurham Region TransitDurham Region Transit is the regional public transit operator in Durham Region, east of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its headquarters are at 605 Rossland Rd East in Whitby, Ontario, and there are regional centres in Ajax, Whitby, and Oshawa.-Overview:...
- OC TranspoOC TranspoOC Transpo is the urban transit service of the City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. An integrated hub-and-spoke system of services is available consisting of: regular buses travelling on fixed routes in mixed traffic, typical of most urban transit systems; a bus rapid transit system — a high...
(2012) - Toronto Transit CommissionToronto Transit Commission-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
(12 subway stations; future system-wide implementation)
2007/08 trial
In July 2007, 500 commuters who normally commuted from Meadowvale and Cooksville GO stations in MississaugaMississauga, Ontario
Mississauga is a city in Southern Ontario located in the Regional Municipality of Peel, and in the western part of the Greater Toronto Area. With an estimated population of 734,000, it is Canada's sixth-most populous municipality, and has almost doubled in population in each of the last two decades...
to Union Station
Union Station (Toronto)
Union Station is the major inter-city rail station and a major commuter rail hub in Toronto, located on Front Street West and occupying the south side of the block bounded by Bay Street and York Street in the central business district. The station building is owned by the City of Toronto, while the...
in downtown Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
received a free card and tried the system under a trial termed "Launch 1".Mississauga has a neighbourhood shuttle service in Meadowvale and Cooksville to transport passengers to GO Transit. Consequently, officials thought it would be the perfect environment to test the fare system. During the Launch 1 trial, the Presto card could be used at:
- Mississauga TransitMississauga TransitMiWay , is a public transport agency serving Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The city's Transportation and Works department is in charge of its operation....
(shuttle routes of 60 Meadowvale Shuttle-Crosscurrent, 62 Cooksville Shuttle-Webb, 63 Cooksville Shuttle-Kaneff, 64 Meadowvale Shuttle-Montevideo only) - GO TransitGO TransitGO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
(Meadowvale and Cooksville GO stations only) - Toronto Transit CommissionToronto Transit Commission-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
(UnionUnion (TTC)Union Station is a station on the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the Toronto subway and RT. Opened in 1954 along with the first twelve subway stations of Toronto, it is located between the Yonge Street and University Avenue sections of the line at 55 Front Street West between Bay Street and York...
subway station only)
The Launch 1 trial concluded September 30, 2008.
Rollout
Starting in fall 2009 the Presto card is being introduced in stages.| Stage | Date | GO Transit | Local systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| One (field trial) |
November 30, 2009 | Union Union Station (Toronto) Union Station is the major inter-city rail station and a major commuter rail hub in Toronto, located on Front Street West and occupying the south side of the block bounded by Bay Street and York Street in the central business district. The station building is owned by the City of Toronto, while the... , Oakville, and Bronte stations |
|
| Two | May 2010 |
Lakeshore West rail line:
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| June 2010 | Lakeshore West rail line:
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| July 2010 | Lakeshore West rail line:
Milton rail line:
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| August 2010 | Milton rail line:
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| September 2010 | Milton rail line:
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| October 2010 | Georgetown rail line:
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| November 2010 | Georgetown rail line:
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| Three | December 2010 | Lakeshore East rail line:
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| January 2011 |
System-wide:
Georgetown rail line:
Lakeshore East rail line:
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| February 2011 |
Lakeshore East rail line:
Barrie rail line:
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| March 2011 |
Barrie rail line:
Lakeshore East rail line:
Richmond Hill Richmond Hill Line The Richmond Hill Line is a surface transit line on Myrtle Avenue in Queens, New York City, United States. Once a streetcar line owned by the Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation, it is now the Q55 Myrtle Avenue bus route, operated by the New York City Transit Authority.... rail line:
Stouffville rail line:
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| April 2011 |
Stouffville rail line:
Richmond Hill Richmond Hill Line The Richmond Hill Line is a surface transit line on Myrtle Avenue in Queens, New York City, United States. Once a streetcar line owned by the Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation, it is now the Q55 Myrtle Avenue bus route, operated by the New York City Transit Authority.... rail line:
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| May 2011 |
Stouffville rail line:
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| June 2011 |
Lakeshore East rail line:
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| July 2011 |
Georgetown rail line:
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| August 2011 |
Lakeshore West rail line:
System-wide:
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| October 2011 |
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| Fall 2011 |
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| Four | Spring 2012 |
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Stage One
The first stage of the production rollout schedule launched on November 30, 2009 and includes a limited number of recruited customers to test the system.Stage 1 includes Oakville, Bronte and Union GO Stations, TTC Union Station Subway, and ten Oakville Transit buses on three routes.
Stage Two
The second stage of the production rollout schedule launched on May 10, 2010. In this stage, the PRESTO System became available to the general public and transit users were able to purchase PRESTO cards and use them at participating stations and transit systems. Stage two launched similar to stage one, but with full participation from Oakville Transit and Burlington Transit. GO Transit continues its system-wide rollout, with the Lakeshore East, Milton and Georgetown lines coming online at a rate of a few stations a week. The Toronto Transit Commission also added 6 downtown stations (St. George, Queen’s Park, St. Patrick, Dundas, College, Bloor/Yonge) to the PRESTO System. 2 additional stations (Kipling and Islington) were added in summer 2010. The third stage of the production rollout schedule is scheduled for fall of 2010 and will bring more transit systems and stations into the PRESTO System.Stage Three
The third stage of the rollout schedule expands the rollout to a larger scale, covering the entire 905 region and Hamilton. GO Transit is expected to complete its rollout for both trains and buses. The TTC completed its committed rollout by adding Don Mills, Downsview and Finch stations. Concession fares were also added for GO Transit, Oakville Transit, and Burlington Transit. Brampton Transit became fully Presto-enabled as of May 30, 2011. On the same date, MiWay also made the farecard available to adult passengers only. Durham Region Transit launched Presto card for co-fares with GO Transit as of June 27, 2011. York Region Transit launched presto with concession fares on July 17, 2011.Future GO Train stations (such as St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Guelph, Acton, and Kitchener) will also be Presto-enabled at the opening day.Stage Four
The fourth stage of the rollout will involve only one transit system, Ottawa's OC Transpo. This stage involves the rollout of PRESTO card outside the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area. OC Transpo is expected to be fully rolled-out by spring 2012.TTC participation
The Toronto Transit Commission has at present only committed to implement the Presto system at twelve of its major subway stations. As a large number of commuters in the GTHA use the TTC, the full implementation of Presto within the TTC would greatly benefit the usability of the farecard. The TTC has approved the use of a smartcard systemand is working with Presto in addressing the TTC’s business requirements for “full” system participation. An initial funding allocation of $140 million has been earmarked by the provincial and federal governments and the City of Toronto; however, the TTC has estimated in its 2009-2013 budget that the project would take $365 million to complete. At a provincial funding announcement in March 2011, it was also revealed that Presto was, indeed, to become the TTC's fare card of choice, though details of financing are still to be worked out.
Expansion
The Eglinton–Scarborough Crosstown line will use the Presto card at all stations. The Air Rail Link between Union StationUnion Station (Toronto)
Union Station is the major inter-city rail station and a major commuter rail hub in Toronto, located on Front Street West and occupying the south side of the block bounded by Bay Street and York Street in the central business district. The station building is owned by the City of Toronto, while the...
in downtown Toronto and Toronto Pearson International Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport
Toronto Pearson International Airport is an international airport serving Toronto, Ontario, Canada; its metropolitan area; and the Golden Horseshoe, an urban agglomeration that is home to 8.1 million people – approximately 25% of Canada's population...
in the City of Mississauga is also expected to use the system.
How to use
The cards will be available at transit depots, over the phone and online for $6. At the time of receiving the card, a minimum money value of $10 must be loaded into the card. Beginning in Stage 3, cardholders will also be able to load passes (for up to three transit systems at a time) on to their Presto card. When boarding, riders tap the prepaid card, embedded with an RFID chip, on to a reader. The reader will then check for either a valid transit pass, or automatically deduct the lowest available fare from the card. Loyalty programs are also available on some transit systems, where frequent use of the system results in greater discounts on fare payment.The fact that the Presto card works on multiple transit systems is only one of its advantages:
- Concession fares: While the Presto card is automatically set for adult fares, starting in Stage 3 registered cardholders will have the option to set their cards to automatically deduct either student, senior or child fares.
- Autoload: The Autoload feature allows cardholders to have a predetermined value automatically loaded onto their Presto card, when the e-Purse value reaches a specified threshold.
- Lost card replacement: If a registered cardholder loses their Presto card, they have the ability to have their lost card blocked within 24 hours of and the remaining balance transferred to a replacement card.
- Underpayment allowance: If a registered card has insufficient funds to pay a fare, but the balance is greater than $0 and has sufficient funds to cover the minimum base fare, the cardholder has the ability to go into underpayment and incur a negative balance for one trip for a small fee.
Fares
Participating transit systems have different fares and fare policies when using the Presto Card compared to traditional fare media; generally, passengers receive a discount using Presto compared to cash fares. The implementation of the Presto Card has also unified the fare categories of GO Transit and local transit agencies, with local transit agencies adopting the GO Transit standard: previously, local transit agencies differed on the age limits for child and senior fares as well the types of students that may use student fares (some excluding post-secondary students while others do not). Registered Presto Card holders will be assessed the senior or child fares as appropriate; unregistered cards will always have adult fares assessed. Student fare classification must be activated by the card-issuing transit authority through its normal procedures, which differ between transit systems.| Adult | Senior | Child | Student | GO co-fare | Period Passes | Loyalty Program | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GO Transit GO Transit GO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe... |
- | - | - | - | GO Transit fares depend on originating and destination fare zones. | |||
| Brampton Transit Brampton Transit Brampton Transit is public transport bus operator for the City of Brampton in the Regional Municipality of Peel, and within the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada. Brampton Transit began operations in 1974.... |
$2.65 | $1.50 | $2.45 | $2.45 | Fares are comparable to transit ticket levels. Presto Card is not accepted for BT 66 Wonderland Express. | |||
| Burlington Transit Burlington Transit Burlington Transit is the public transport provider in the city of Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Services began in September 1975, after the city had been served by neighbouring systems including Hamilton Street Railway , and former subsidiary Canada Coach Lines, as well as "local" services to and... |
$2.50 | $1.70 | $1.50 | $1.70 | Fares are comparable to transit ticket levels. | |||
| Durham Region Transit Durham Region Transit Durham Region Transit is the regional public transit operator in Durham Region, east of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its headquarters are at 605 Rossland Rd East in Whitby, Ontario, and there are regional centres in Ajax, Whitby, and Oshawa.-Overview:... |
- | - | - | - | DRT only accepts Presto for GO Transit co-fares, due to issues with GO Transit fare integration with DRT. | |||
| Hamilton Street Railway Hamilton Street Railway The Hamilton Street Railway Company is the Transit Division of the City of Hamilton, Public Works Department in Ontario, Canada. The name is a legacy of the days when the majority of public transit vehicles were streetcars; the present-day Hamilton Street Railway is in fact a bus operator... |
$2 | $2 | $1.65 | $1.65 | Fares are comparable to transit ticket levels. All HSR passes, except day passes, HSR Golden Age Bus Pass, and Summer Youth Pass, may be stored as period passes on Presto. | |||
| MiWay | $2.50 | $1.70 | $1.65 | $2.25 | Fares are comparable to transit ticket levels. Presto Card is not accepted for MiExpress 88 Wonderland. | |||
| Oakville Transit Oakville Transit Oakville Transit is the public transportation provider in Oakville, Ontario, Canada since 1972. It is a department of the town, and a member of the Canadian Urban Transit Association. It offers the typical conventional bus service, and a para-transit service, called care-A-van, for those unable to... |
- | - | - | - | Presto Card fares depend on how many previous trips have been taken on OT in the previous month. OT period passes are not offered for Presto due to this program. | |||
| Toronto Transit Commission Toronto Transit Commission -Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:... |
$2.50 | - | - | - | Fares are comparable to token levels (see Toronto Transit Commission Toronto Transit Commission -Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:... for details). Concession fares are not offered on the Presto Card; adult fare will be deducted. |
|||
| York Region Transit York Region Transit York Region Transit is the public transit operator in York Region, Ontario, Canada. Its headquarters are in Richmond Hill, at 50 High Tech Road.... |
$2.60 | $1.50 | $1.90 | $1.50 | Fares are comparable to transit ticket levels. Fares shown are for travel within one fare zone. |
Other Presto Card fare notes:
- GO Transit - Fares for adult and student passengers between two fare zones are reduced to levels comparable to that of 10-ride tickets. The loyalty discount system is in place where passengers frequently travelling between two fare zones will receive further discounts after 30 (student) or 35 trips (adult) in a single month, so the fare paid per month never exceeds that of the corresponding GO Transit monthly pass. Fares for child and senior passengers do not receive a further discount beyond the same 50% of adult (ticket) prices offered via traditional fare media. See GO Transit faresGO Transit faresGO Transit is the inter-regional transportation authority of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. It is Canada's oldest regional transit system, first serving passengers in 1967.- Fare Zones :...
for more information.- Passengers connecting to local transit from GO Transit will only be assessed the co-fare, if applicable, on the Presto Card if the GO Transit trip was also assessed to the Presto Card; the full local fare will be assessed otherwise. Passengers connecting to GO transit from local transit will have their co-fare discounts assessed when disembarking from their GO Transit trips.
- Barrie Transit - As Barrie TransitBarrie TransitBarrie Transit is the public transport operator for the City of Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Daily operation of the Barrie Transit bus service and Barrie Accessible Community Transportation Service is provided under contract by First Canada.-Routes:...
does not implement the Presto Card, GO Transit co-fares are not offered for Presto Card users. - Burlington Transit - BT implements a loyalty program where adult, senior, and student passengers making a number of full fare (not co-fare) rides in a calendar month may ride for the rest of the month for free; the amount paid will be equivalent to a BT monthly pass.
- Hamilton Street Railway - GO Transit co-fares are done differently for Presto Card holders compared to holders of traditional fare media. Passengers transferring to HSR from GO Transit will receive a $0.50 discount on the HSR fare, while passengers transferring to GO Transit from HSR will receive a $1.50 discount on the GO Transit fare.
- Milton Transit - As Milton TransitMilton TransitMilton Transit is the public transit system in the Town of Milton, Ontario, Canada. Milton is in Halton Regional Municipality, part of the Greater Toronto Area....
does not implement the Presto Card, GO Transit co-fares are not offered for Presto Card users. - Oakville Transit - Like GO Transit, fares for passengers are progressively reduced as more trips are taken over the course of a calendar month. After 10 rides and every 10 rides thereafter, the amount paid will be equivalent to using 10-ride tickets, and after 35 rides the amount paid will be equivalent to to using a monthly pass.
- Toronto Transit Commission - The TTC has only implemented the Presto Card at 12 subwayToronto subway and RTThe Toronto subway and RT is a rapid transit system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of both underground and elevated railway lines, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission . It was Canada's first completed subway system, with the first line being built under Yonge Street, which opened in...
stations, including all stations with connections to neighbouring transit systems, however at these stations, passengers may obtain a TTC transfer for connecting travel. Full TTC integration (including transitioning from the existing trip-based transfers to the time-based transfers used by other local transit agencies) is expected by 2015. The TTC has not implemented the Presto Card on its buses or streetcars, including buses operating on behalf of MiWay and York Region Transit; however, passengers may use the Presto Card to connect to a TTC bus route at stations with fare-paid transfer zones, as per TTC's transfer policy.- As TTC uses trip-based rather than time-based fares, there are no free transfers between the TTC and any connecting service; passengers connecting to a neighbouring service will be assessed a full fare, even within the nominal transfer window.
- Though TTC fare media is valid for YRT's Viva OrangeViva OrangeViva Orange, or the Martin Grove-York University-Downsview line, is a line on the Viva bus rapid transit system in York Region, north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its entire route is also served by other agencies' bus rapid transit services...
service for travel to York UniversityYork UniversityYork University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
, YRT fares will be assessed if passengers embark at York University, Murray Ross, Dufferin-Finch Vivastations, or outside Downsview StationDownsview (TTC)Downsview is a station of the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the Toronto subway and RT. It is located at the intersection of William R. Allen Road and Sheppard Avenue West. The station is currently the northern terminus of its western branch, the Spadina line. It is also a ‘Vivastation’ on the...
's fare-paid area; passengers are assessed the TTC fare when boarding Viva Orange from Downsview Station's fare-paid area. - As TTC buses do not accept the Presto Card, passengers may not board at Downsview StationDownsview (TTC)Downsview is a station of the Yonge–University–Spadina line of the Toronto subway and RT. It is located at the intersection of William R. Allen Road and Sheppard Avenue West. The station is currently the northern terminus of its western branch, the Spadina line. It is also a ‘Vivastation’ on the...
or Don Mills StationDon Mills (TTC)Don Mills is the eastern terminus station of the Sheppard line of the subway system in Toronto, Canada. It is also a "Vivastation" on the Viva Green line of York Region's Viva bus rapid transit system...
and pay for both the TTC and YRT fares (using the Presto reader at the Vivastation vending machine for the latter) and board a TTC bus bound for York Region. A separate (non-Presto) YRT fare is required when exiting the bus in York Region, as per existing TTC fare policies.
- York Region Transit - Zone fares may be deducted on request for passengers travelling across fare zone boundaries, or from the ticket vending machines at Vivastations. YRT Express fare supplements will also be automatically deducted.
- Zone fares and YRT Express fares cannot be assessed on their own; passengers using the GTA Weekly Pass thus cannot use the Presto Card for these fare upgrades.
- Passengers making a two-zone trip on a one-zone fare will be assessed a second full fare when making a connection past the fare zone boundary instead of a free transfer or a zone upgrade fare. Accidental crossings of the zone boundaries cannot be reconciled when disembarking: the full fare must be paid when boarding the first YRT bus.
- Due to fare integration issues with GO Transit, GO Transit fares will be deducted when boarding Route 69 Sutton GO Bus. As this is the only route crossing the northern zone boundary, the Presto Card cannot be used for three-zone fares or two-zone fares crossing this boundary.
- YRT fares are assessed when boarding ZümZümZüm is a bus rapid transit system for the suburban city of Brampton, Ontario, Canada, northwest of Toronto owned and operated by Brampton Transit. The first phase calls for three corridors operating in mixed traffic, similar to York Region Transit's Viva network...
buses in York Region due to fare integration with Viva OrangeViva OrangeViva Orange, or the Martin Grove-York University-Downsview line, is a line on the Viva bus rapid transit system in York Region, north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its entire route is also served by other agencies' bus rapid transit services...
, even though both YRT and Brampton Transit fare media are accepted for Züm buses in York Region. Passengers holding a Brampton Transit period pass will not be assessed a fare when boarding a Züm bus in York Region, but will be assessed a fare for boarding Viva Orange. As Viva OrangeViva OrangeViva Orange, or the Martin Grove-York University-Downsview line, is a line on the Viva bus rapid transit system in York Region, north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its entire route is also served by other agencies' bus rapid transit services...
is on a proof-of-payment system while Züm buses are pay-as-you-board, it does not matter whether fares are deducted at the Vivastation vending machine or on board a Züm bus, except in the case of Brampton Transit period pass holders, as previously mentioned. - YRT does not issue paper transfers for Presto card holders. Thus, passengers must pay a second full fare when connecting to TTC services in York Region, due to the TTC not having implemented the Presto Card on its buses.
Intercity transfers
Local transit systems within the Presto Card's service area have always honoured transfers from neighbouring transit systems, and transferring between neighbouring transit systems continues to be honoured with the Presto Card where they were honoured with traditional fare media.Most transit agencies will not issue transfers on Presto Card fares. However, paper transfers may still be issued in the following cases:
- Transferring from a MiWay bus to TTC route 58 Malton in Mississauga, which operates on behalf of MiWay while in Mississauga
- Transferring from GO Transit services to Durham Region Transit buses via co-fare, with intention on connecting to another DRT or GO bus.
- Depending on the transit operators involved, transferring from a local transit agency where the passenger has a local period pass to a neighbouring transit agency where the passenger does not (such as from Hamilton Street Railway to Burlington Transit while the Presto Card has a period pass for HSR); a full fare for the second transit agency will otherwise be assessed to the Presto Card.
As the Presto Card is meant to replace paper transfers, local transit operators have generally adopted the Presto card's transfer policies in their paper transfers (in the sense that, with the exception of the TTC, all local operators accept each others' transfers, and will not reissue transfers originally issued by other local operators), except that the transfer window is 2 hours instead of the 2 1/2 provided by the Presto Card.
It is not known how Presto Card transfers will be done between OC Transpo
OC Transpo
OC Transpo is the urban transit service of the City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. An integrated hub-and-spoke system of services is available consisting of: regular buses travelling on fixed routes in mixed traffic, typical of most urban transit systems; a bus rapid transit system — a high...
and Société de transport de l'Outaouais
Société de transport de l'Outaouais
Société de transport de l'Outaouais is the transit service of the Outaouais region of Quebec. It operates public transit routes in Gatineau, Quebec, including the Hull, Aylmer, Gatineau, Buckingham and Masson-Angers sectors, plus limited service to suburban communities such as Chelsea and...
and the extent of integration between the Presto Card and the STO's existing Passe-Partout PLUS (including the STO-OC Transpo Rider card) smart card system. However, it is known that STO has upgraded their system so that the Presto Card will also be accepted on STO buses once OC Transpo has implemented the Presto Card, for the convenience of OC Transpo passengers.