Toronto Transit Commission fares

Fares to use the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) transit system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, can be paid with various media. The price of fares varies according to age (concessions for seniors and youth, free for children 12 years of age and under), occupation (discounts for post-secondary students), and income level of riders (Fair Pass program).

For the payment of fares, the TTC principally uses Presto fare media, specifically Presto cards (multiple-use, stored-value, electronic fare cards) and Presto tickets (single-use, electronic paper tickets), both of which use Presto readers to charge fares and validate transfers. Legacy fare media (cash, tokens and legacy tickets) are still accepted to pay fares but tokens and legacy tickets are no longer sold to the general public.

In September 2022, Metrolinx and the TTC started to upgrade Presto readers in order to support open payment using credit and debit cards or mobile devices. Existing readers on Wheel-Trans vehicles were replaced in September 2022. Between October 2022 and January 2023, the 5500 Presto readers on buses and streetcars are to be upgraded followed by the upgrade of readers at subway station fare gates. Open payment is expected to be activated sometime in 2023.

Fares

All Presto fare payments on the TTC for single-ride as well as customers using 1-ride or 2-ride Presto tickets are valid for two hours from the first tap-in when one boards any TTC street vehicles or enters the paid zones in the TTC subway stations.

These are the fares :

Monthly passes are available only on the Presto card. All the prices below are per month, with monthly subscription prices listed for the 12-month passes:

Concessionary fares

In addition to the regular fare that must be paid by adults (age 20–64), there are concessionary fares, some based on the rider's age.
* Children aged 12 and under can travel fare free on the TTC. While children in this age group can travel fare-free on the subway and on TTC surface vehicles operating within Toronto city limits as well as those travelling to and from Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga; however, it does not apply on TTC-operated bus routes that travel into Mississauga (west of Pearson Airport) and York Region (north of Steeles Avenue). Children must pay the appropriate York Region Transit (YRT) or Mississauga's MiWay child fare while riding abroad TTC vehicles in those regions. Fares for children on the TTC overall were eliminated on 1 March 2015 as part of a general TTC fare price change.
* Youth fares are available to those aged 13 to 19, who are required to provide ID upon request.
* Senior fares are available to those aged 65 or older, who are required to provide ID upon request.

There are two other concessionary fares that are not age-based. Both are implemented on the Presto card:
* The Fair Pass program is for Toronto residents who are low-income earners benefiting from any of the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Ontario Works, or a Toronto Child Care Fee Subsidy. Those eligible for the Fair Pass program receive a Presto card configured for the reduced Fair Pass price for either single rides or a monthly pass; Fair Pass users must renew their card annually to continue receiving discounted fares.
* Post-secondary students enrolled at a post-secondary institution recognized by the TTC are eligible for a discounted monthly pass. Individuals travelling on such a pass must provide their TTC post-secondary photo ID upon request.

In 2019, the TTC revised its description of "youth" and "student" for the purpose of fare pricing. Until early 2019, the TTC described a person aged 13–19 as a "student". By mid-2019, the TTC described such a person as a "youth" (although the concessionary tickets and the fare vending machines on TTC streetcars still refers to such persons as "student"), and used the word "student" in the context of a post-secondary student who could be older.

Presto

The TTC supports two types of Presto fare media: the Presto card and the Presto ticket. Both process fares and transfers by means of tapping the Presto media on Presto readers, which are located on buses, on streetcars, and at subway entrances.

The TTC pays Metrolinx a 5.25-percent commission on fare revenue from Presto use. The TTC estimates the total commission paid for 2019 to be $50 million. The Presto contract between the TTC and Metrolinx went into effect in 2012 and expires in 2027, after which the TTC is free to switch to another fare system. The TTC adopted Presto in 2012 due to provincial pressure, including the threat of reduced provincial funding to the TTC.

Presto card

The Presto card is a stored-value smartcard that can be used on the TTC, along with GO Transit, Union Pearson Express and eight other transit service providers across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area as well as on OC Transpo in Ottawa (similar to the OPUS card used in the Greater Montreal area and Quebec City and the Compass Card used in the Metro Vancouver area).

Using the Presto card on the TTC, a cardholder can pay adult single fares with the option of lower concessionary fares for senior, Fair Pass, post-secondary student, youth, or child riders. (Even though children ride free, a child Presto card allows the child to pass through the fare gates at unstaffed subway station entrances.)

The Presto card can be optionally loaded with a TTC monthly pass, with concessionary pricing available for eligible senior, Fair Pass, post-secondary student, or youth riders. The 12-month pass is a commitment by an adult, senior or youth Presto cardholder to purchase 12 consecutive monthly passes, and receive a discounted monthly price for each pass. Presto cardholders can add a monthly pass to their Presto card during the last twelve days of the previous month and the first eight days of the new month.

When using a Presto card to pay a single fare, a two-hour transfer is automatically recorded. From the time of initial tap-on, the transfer is valid for two hours, during which passengers can enter and exit TTC vehicles or subway stations and change direction of travel repeatedly without having to pay any additional fare.

Presto ticket

A Presto ticket is a limited-use, reinforced paper ticket with an embedded electronic chip. Like the Presto card, users must tap the Presto ticket on a Presto reader when entering a TTC bus, streetcar or subway station. Unlike the Presto card, they do not support concessionary fares; it is valid only for TTC services. Unused Presto tickets expire 90 days from the day of purchase. It is still possible to exchange an expired ticket, if unused, for a valid one up to one year past the printed expiration date.

Presto tickets are accepted at all TTC subway stations. However, on surface routes, Presto tickets can only be used within the City of Toronto's limits and at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Mississauga. On TTC-operated bus routes that travel into Mississauga (west of Pearson Airport) or York Region (north of Steeles Avenue), where an additional MiWay or YRT fare is required, they cannot be used. The Presto ticket is intended for infrequent TTC customers.

There are three types of Presto ticket: 1-ride, 2-ride and day pass. Like Presto cards, there is a two-hour transfer window available for 1- and 2-ride Presto tickets. The TTC Presto day pass expires at 2:59a.m. on the day following the ticket's first use.

Legacy fare media

Legacy fare media include:
* Cash
* Tokens
* Legacy tickets for seniors and youths
* Legacy TTC day passes (different from TTC Presto day pass tickets)
* Convention passes

On 1 December 2019, the TTC ceased sales of tokens, legacy tickets and legacy TTC day passes to the general public. However, those already purchased may continue to be used until further notice.

TTC paper transfersobtained when a TTC fare is paid by cash, legacy ticket or tokenwhich act as proof-of-payment and allow passengers to transfer between connecting TTC routes without having to pay another fare, are time sensitive and are good for a continuous, one-way trip on the TTC. Stopovers or return trips are not permitted.

In addition to the single-trip legacy media, there are legacy (non-electronic) passes, which are simply shown to TTC employees – such as subway station attendants, bus or streetcar operators, roaming fare inspectors or special constables – as proof-of-payment:
* The legacy TTC day pass is valid for one person on a weekday. However, on weekends or holidays, the same pass can be used as a family/group pass: this means that a single pass can be used, at no additional charge, by two adults travelling together or by one or two adults accompanied by people aged 19 years or younger, with up to six people in the group. The pass can be bought in advance, to be marked with the date only when the owner is ready to use it. The pass is valid from the date marked until 5:30a.m. the next day. The TTC Presto day pass has the same price as is with the legacy TTC day pass, but different rules. The TTC discontinued the sale of the legacy TTC day pass at its subway stations effective 1 December 2019.
* The convention pass is available only to those attending conventions, trade shows, and similar conferences; it is not sold to the general public. The TTC issues these passes for the applicable number of days and sells them to convention operators.

Special fare arrangements

Fares outside Toronto

The TTC operates several routesincluding the western branch of Line 1 Yonge–Universitythat cross the Toronto city limits, and an extra fare is charged when crossing the fare boundary on buses. In York Region and the City of Mississauga (where the fare boundary is set at Pearson Airport), these TTC bus routes operate under a contract agreement to those municipalities. The additional fare is equal to either the YRT or MiWay fare, and transfers to those connecting buses are included.

For the two Line 1 subway stations in VaughanHighway 407 and Vaughan Metropolitan Centreno extra fare is charged to reach these stations to simplify fare collection, as these stations are part of the Toronto TTC fare zone. An additional fare is charged when transferring between the TTC subway and connecting suburban transit systems, such as YRT, at these stations, as is the case when transferring to suburban transit systems located in or bordering Toronto. This is similar to the situation in 1968, when the subway was first extended outside Toronto's pre-1998 limits, when an internal TTC fare zone system was in place (see '' Zone fares (1954–1973)'').

TTC Times Two

While separate fares are charged when transferring between TTC and Metrolinx-owned GO Transit or Union Pearson Express (UPX) fare-by-distance services, riders who paid an initial TTC fare with cash, tokens or tickets and obtain a paper transfer can use GO or UPX for an intermediate stage of their journey and can change back to the TTCat designated locations onlywithout having to pay a second TTC fare to complete a trip; this policy is called "TTC Times Two". These restrictions do not apply when using Presto.

Presto procedures

Purchasing Presto media

Presto cards can be purchased, or loaded with a balance, by the following means:
* Online from the Presto website (if the Presto customer has previously created a "My PRESTO account")
* Through the Presto mobile app (if the Presto customer has previously created a "My PRESTO account")
* Presto vending machines in TTC subway stations, as well as at select GO Transit and Union Pearson Express railway stations
* At most Shoppers Drug Mart stores
* At the TTC Customer Service Centre above Davisville station

Presto cards purchased from the Presto website or from Presto vending machines are set to the adult fare rates. For concessionary fares (excluding the Fair Pass program), a Presto cardholder must take their Presto card to either a Shoppers Drug Mart store, a fare and ticket service counter located at select GO Transit and Union Pearson Express railway stations or the TTC Customer Service Centre with appropriate ID to have the concession fare rate set. In the case of those eligible for the Fair Pass program, ODSP or Ontario Works case workers can grant approval of the discount for their clients.

Presto tickets are sold at Presto vending machines at all subway stations. They are also sold at most Toronto Shoppers Drug Mart stores. A customer can purchase up to ten Presto tickets at a time from a Presto vending machine at subway stations. Presto tickets must be used within 90 days of purchase, though some print the date of expiry and some do not.

Presto vending machines are also available at Toronto Pearson International Airport at each of Terminals 1 and 3, ground transportation level. These sell both Presto cards and Presto tickets.

Presto cardholders can purchase and load a TTC monthly pass onto a card online, at a TTC subway station vending machine, or at a Shoppers Drug Mart store. TTC 12-month passes can only be purchased and loaded onto a card online.

Metrolinx granted Shoppers Drug Mart exclusive retailing rights to sell Presto fare media. , there were 136 Shoppers Drug Mart stores in Toronto selling Presto products. Presto has a mobile app that can be downloaded through Google Play or Apple's iOS/iPadOS App Store and also allow mobile devices to be used for payment using Presto.

Using Presto media

A rider paying their fare with a Presto card or Presto ticket must tap on a Presto reader every time the rider boards a bus or streetcar, or passes through a fare gate at a subway station. All buses and streetcars have a Presto reader at each door. Presto customers may board by any door on a streetcar. On most buses, customers can only board by the front door, unless that bus is replacing a streetcar or inside the fare paid zone of a subway station. Customers using Wheel-Trans vehicles can pay their fare using a Presto card with stored value or a TTC monthly pass loaded on it, as well as with a 1-ride, 2-ride or day pass Presto ticket.

When paying a single fare, Presto automatically records a timed transfer. From the time of initial tap-on, a transfer with Presto is valid for two hours, during which passengers can enter and exit TTC vehicles or subway stations and change direction of travel repeatedly without having to pay any additional fare. Presto users must tap on every time they either enter a subway station or board a surface vehicle. If the two-hour transfer expires while riding on a TTC vehicle, Presto fare holders may finish the trip on that vehicle without paying another fare or risking a fine. If the rider subsequently boards another vehicle after expiry, then another fare needs to be paid.

Presto card customers can also pay GTA zone fares for TTC bus routes serving areas outside of the City of Toronto. A TTC fare is charged to the Presto card within Toronto. A MiWay fare is charged on TTC buses (specifically the 52B/D Lawrence West buses) travelling west of Toronto Pearson International Airport into Mississauga (west of Bresler Drive and Jetliner along Airport Road). (This does not apply to TTC buses terminating at the airport.) A York Region Transit fare is charged on TTC buses travelling north of Steeles Avenue into Vaughan and Markham, which are located in York Region. Riders crossing the zone boundary must tap their Presto card twice, once when boarding the bus and again when leaving. However, this is not necessary on the subway as double fares are not charged to enter or exit Highway 407 and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre stations, despite these stations being fully located in York Region.

Customers require proof-of-payment when riding streetcars. Presto media provides this proof after the customer taps it on a Presto reader. Roving TTC employees such as fare inspectors or special constables may check a customer's Presto media using a handheld portable reader.

Future

, the TTC is operating both the Presto and legacy fare systems. The TTC describes the Presto system as still incomplete, preventing it from dropping the legacy fare system. The TTC and Metrolinx have yet to resolve a dispute about deliverables for the Presto system. The TTC wants Metrolinx to implement the following additional features:
* Allow Presto paper TTC tickets to be provided on streetcars and buses to replace the paper transfers issued to riders who pay by cash
* Expand the retail network selling Presto fare media
* Allow fare payment by tapping a debit or credit card (open payment)

The TTC estimates that Metrolinx will start testing open payment (fare payment by debit or credit card with contactless tapping) for its system in 2023. , there is no implementation schedule, but all Presto machines on the TTC would need to be retrofitted or replaced to support open payment.

Other ideas that the TTC had considered in 2015 for the Presto card were distance-based fares and premium fares for rush-hour travel. However, a June 2019 TTC report on Presto implementation made no mention of those two ideas.

For both the future Line 5 Eglinton and Line 6 Finch West light rail lines, the TTC plans to install full-service Presto fare vending machines on the platforms of each surface stop. These FVMs will also have ticket validators for stamping TTC legacy tickets. Light rail riders would need to pay or validate their fare on the platform before boarding a light-rail train. Grade-separated stations will have subway-style fare gates.

By February 2022, the TTC was considering replacing the Presto monthly pass with fare capping. This would benefit some riders who are unable to buy the pass up front or who are unsure if they would make enough trips in a month to justify a monthly pass. An adult paying the regular fare would need to make 48 trips in a month to justify buying a monthly pass rather than paying by single fares. The percentage of TTC customers using a monthly pass has fallen from 50 percent in 2015 to 30 percent in 2019, a major cause being that a single fare paid via Presto allows two hours of unlimited travel on the TTC. Also being considered is reducing the concession fare for seniors and youth to be the same price as for Fair Pass users.

Legacy fare procedures

, legacy fare media (cash, tokens and legacy discounted tickets) are still accepted for fare payment but the general public can no longer purchase tokens and legacy tickets from the TTC. At least one priority entrance of each subway station has a fare line for payment by legacy media, after which the rider obtains a paper transfer from a machine to act as proof of payment. On buses, riders board at the front door(s) to deposit legacy media into a fare box and ask the driver for a paper transfer. On streetcars, passengers paying by cash (who must use exact change in coins as these machines do not give change) or tokens pay their fare at one of the two fare vending machines (FVMs) at the second and third doors of the vehicle and obtain a receipt as proof of payment; customers paying with legacy tickets use the TTC ticket validator located beside the fare vending machines to date-and-time stamp their ticket. When transferring onto a connecting bus or passing through the fare gates upon entering a subway station, the stamped legacy ticket must be dropped into the fare box situated beside the TTC subway station collector or bus driver and the rider may obtain a paper transfer as their proof of purchase and to connect with other TTC vehicles or routes.

In late 2017, with the opening of Line 1's Toronto–York Spadina Subway Extension, the TTC began a process of discontinuing the sale of all legacy fare media products and introduced roaming customer service agents (CSAs) at those stations, as well as at Sheppard West and Wilson stations, even though fare collector booths had been installed as per original station plans. To this end, the TTC had already discontinued the sale of legacy fare media products at Line 1 stations between and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre stations by 6 January 2019. This plan was not fully carried out because , at least one priority entrance at every station has a fare lane for riders paying by cash or legacy media. Many subway stations still have collectors.

In 2018, the TTC had planned to phase out all legacy fare media and cash fares, eventually accepting only Presto fare media. As of 1 December 2019, the TTC discontinued the sale of legacy fare media (tokens, tickets, GTA weekly passes, and non-electronic day passes) at its remaining subway stations but continued to sell tokens and legacy tickets to school boards and social service agencies pending the availability of Presto bulk sales. , the TTC was still operating both the Presto and legacy fare systems because the TTC viewed the Presto system rollout as incomplete. The TTC and Metrolinx were in a dispute as to what features Presto should provide. By November 2021, the TTC had revised this plan: when Line 5 Eglinton and Line 6 Finch West opened, fare vending machines located on surface stop platforms would each have a TTC ticket validator to accept legacy tickets.

Purchasing media

Until 30 November 2019, legacy fare media (such as discounted tickets, along with tokens and legacy TTC day passes) could be purchased at staffed collector booths at most TTC subway stations. The TTC does not issue refunds for old media and encourages holders of such media to use them up.

On the TTC's streetcars, the fare vending machines are located at the second and fourth modules of each car near the double doors. These machines dispense 1-ride paper tickets when payment is made using tokens or coins.

Payment

At subway stations

All subway stations have at least one entrance equipped with a farebox staffed by a customer service agent where customers can make or prove fare payment with legacy fare media (cash, legacy tickets, tokens, transfers, and legacy TTC day passes). Children (aged 12 or under) without a Presto card can gain free access to the system through these staffed entrances.

Before the transition to Presto, TTC subway stations had two types of fare gates, metal push-bar tripod turnstiles at staffed entrances and floor-to-ceiling turnstiles at unstaffed subway entrances, both of which allowed customers to pass through the gates by inserting a token or swiping a fare card with a magnetic strip, such as a monthly or weekly TTC pass or a GTA weekly pass. From 2016 to 2018, the TTC introduced new plexiglass paddle-style fare gates at all subway station entrances, which replaced the old tripod turnstiles used at staffed entrances and floor-to-ceiling revolving turnstiles used at unstaffed entrances. The first of these new gates were installed at Main Street station in March 2016 and they were added to all subway station entrances by June 2018, with Finch being the last station to have Presto fare gates and readers installed at its entrances. In 2019, after physical passes were discontinued, the swipe card readers were removed. Following these removals, only Presto customers can pass through unstaffed fare gates. Customers with legacy fare media, such as cash and paper transfers, can only enter at staffed entrances. Once the conversion to Presto is complete and legacy TTC fare media are no longer accepted, the only way to enter a subway station will be through the fare gates using Presto media.

On TTC buses and streetcars

On buses, legacy tickets, tokens or cash (change not given) must be deposited into a farebox by the front door near the operator, while Presto users must tap their card or ticket on a Presto fare reader to validate their fares.

On the Flexity streetcars, the operator is situated inside a separated cab and does not monitor fare payments. For non-Presto users, fare payment procedures on the Flexity vehicles are as follows:
* Two fare vending machines dispense 1-ride tickets (which serve as customer's proof of payment and as transfers onto other TTC services) when a fare is paid with cash (coins only, no change given) or tokens only. From January 2016 to December 2018, they also accepted payment by contactless credit and debit cards as well, but that functionality was removed due to reliability issues.
* Tickets for legacy fares must be validated by inserting them into one of the two red TTC ticket validator machines located beside the FVMs.

Customers cannot purchase Presto fare media, nor load money or a TTC transit pass onto their Presto fare media, nor use their credit or debit cards to pay their fares, on any TTC transit vehicle.

Transfers

A transfer is a proof-of-payment (POP) receipt issued when a fare is paid by cash, token or legacy ticket. It allows riders to switch between most routes without paying additional fares and can be shown as POP to TTC fare inspectors or special constables while riding on board streetcars. (POP is mandatory when riding on streetcars.) A paper transfer is valid to complete a one-way continuous trip without stopovers, with route changes allowed only at valid transfer points generally at an intersection where two routes cross. The transfer rules used to be the same for both Presto and legacy users; however, since 26 August 2018, Presto provides its users a two-hour timed transfer. Presto users do not require paper transfers as a transfer is stored electronically on their card or ticket once they perform their initial tap on a reader.

Three forms of paper transfers are used on the TTC:

* On buses, transfers are issued directly by vehicle operators. These transfers are pre-printed with the route and date and torn off from a holder that with tears in certain locations on the bottom and the side, marking it with the time of issue and direction of travel.
* At subway stations, transfers can be obtained from machines near entry points into the station after customers pay their fares and pass through the fare gates. The machines print the name of the station where the transfer was issued, as well as the date and time, on standardized thermal paper. They were introduced in the mid-1990s and are not valid on surface vehicles at the station (if no fare-paid terminal where transfers are not required is present) at which they are issued.
* The fare vending machines found on board streetcars dispense single-ride paper proof-of-payment tickets, using thermal paper, similar to those used in the subway system. After a passenger pays their fares at the machine with coins or tokens, a one-ride paper POP ticket is printed out which shows the fare type, date, time, stop, route and vehicle where it was issued.

History

Fares have increased substantially since the commission was formed, both in nominal and real terms. There have also been major changes to the way fares are paid for and in the schemes used to determine fares.

Presto fare media (2007–present)

In 2007, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) committed to implement the Presto system at 14 of its major subway stations. In 2008, the TTC approved the use of a smartcard system and worked with Presto in addressing the TTC's business requirements for "full" system participation. An initial funding allocation of $140million was earmarked by the provincial and federal governments and the City of Toronto; however, the TTC estimated in its 2009–2013 budget that the project would take $365million to complete. At a provincial funding announcement in March 2011, it was announced that Presto would become the TTC's fare card of choice, though details of financing were still to be worked out.

On 28 November 2012, TTC CEO Andy Byford, TTC chair Karen Stintz, and Metrolinx signed the master agreement committing the TTC to the Presto fare payment system. The agreement fell under another master agreement that for the next ten years the new four LRT lines would be built by Metrolinx and operated by the TTC. The TTC was the last system to commit to Presto, while also being the largest system with the most users in Canada. On 30 November 2014, the Flexity Outlook streetcars became the first surface vehicles on the TTC to be equipped with this system. The older Canadian Light Rail Vehicle (CLRV) and Articulated Light Rail Vehicle (ALRV) streetcars would follow one year later on 14 December 2015, when those cars were retrofitted with Presto machines as well, and all remaining surface vehicles (including buses) and at least one entrance of all subway stations were equipped with this system by 23 December 2016.

In April 2016, was the first station on the subway system to have the new paddle-door fare gates, which replaced the old tripod turnstiles, installed. All subway stations (at least one entrance per station) became fully Presto-compatible by 22 December 2016.

From May to December 2016, Presto readers were installed in TTC buses from west to east. As of 31 May 2016, all Queensway division buses were equipped with Presto readers. This was followed by Wilson and Arrow Road divisions in August 2016 and Malvern and Mount Dennis divisions in October 2016. Birchmount and Eglinton divisions were the last two divisions to have the Presto readers rolled out, with installations completed by 23 December 2016.

By September 2016, frequent reports emerged that Presto loading machines, fare gates, and the units for tapping cards were not functioning as initially expected. The prevalence of these outages had the TTC calling the situation "unacceptable", although Byford noted the situation was improving. Across 2016 and 2017, faulty Presto devices resulted in 1.4million free rides on the TTC, each ride representing forgone revenue for the Commission. The TTC estimated that from January 2016 to February 2018, it had lost $4.2million in fare revenue as a result of problems with Presto readers, for which—as per the master agreement of 2012—Metrolinx was obligated to reimburse the TTC.

In June 2017, the TTC made their monthly Metropasses available on the Presto card; initially, only the adult and senior versions were available; by the fourth quarter of 2018, student, youth, post-secondary student, and 12-month discount Metropasses were available to load to Presto cards.

On 7 January 2018, the TTC and Metrolinx introduced a discounted double co-fare for customers transferring between Union Pearson Express, GO Transit and the TTC. The discounted fare was only available to Presto card customers who paid single fares using a stored card balance and was not available to customers who paid by cash, paper tickets, tokens or a Presto card with a digital monthly TTC pass loaded on it. This program was cancelled on 1 April 2020, after the Ontario provincial government was unable to renew the contract to extend the double-fare discount program.

Starting in April 2018, the City of Toronto implemented its Fair Pass program for eligible low-income residents as part of the City's poverty reduction policies. The program was implemented through the Presto card, and offered $1 off single rides or $30.75 off a monthly pass relative to adult rates at the time of implementation.

On 26 August 2018, Presto users were given a two-hour, time-based transfer when paying a single fare. This feature was not granted to those who carry paper transfers.

By the end of December 2018, Presto readers were available on all streetcars and TTC buses as well in all subway station entrances (including both the main/staffed and unstaffed/automated entrances). Coxwell on Line 2 was the last subway station to be equipped with Presto readers.

In late 2018, the TTC began internal testing of single-use paper Presto fare cards, called Presto tickets (which include one-ride, two-ride and day pass tickets), to replace legacy tickets and tokens. They were officially made available to the public at and stations on 6 April 2019, and were later made available at all Line 1 subway stations between Lawrence West and Vaughan Metropolitan Centre on 3 May 2019. On 8 July 2019, they were made available in all subway stations. They are also available for sale at select Shoppers Drug Mart stores.

Starting 1 January 2019, Wheel-Trans customers using a Wheel-Trans sedan taxi could pay their fare using a TTC monthly pass on a Presto card. Otherwise, customers without a monthly pass had to pay the fare by cash, concession tickets or tokens.

In June 2019, the TTC sent Metrolinx an invoice for $7.5million to recover revenue lost due to faulty Presto readers. Metrolinx refused to pay the invoice, because—in their view—it was "not valid", and Metrolinx had borne most of the costs of Presto implementation.

Effective 29 July 2019, riders can use a Presto card to pay both the TTC and MiWay fares for TTC buses crossing into Mississauga past Pearson Airport, and effective 26 August 2019, a Presto card can pay both the TTC and York Region Transit fares for TTC bus routes operating between Toronto and York Region.

Effective 26 August 2019, riders can use the Presto card to pay the full double fare on Downtown Express bus routes (141–145). Presto cardholders also have the option of loading either a monthly or 12-month Downtown Express pass onto their Presto card. These two passes replace the previously available Downtown Express sticker that one could purchase and affix to a Presto card.

Starting 13 January 2020, Wheel-Trans customers using a Wheel-Trans sedan taxi can pay the fare from the stored value on a Presto Card or by using a Presto ticket.

In February 2020, the TTC audit committee estimated that fraudulent use of the child Presto card accounted for 33.7 percent of all fare evasion and that 90 percent of taps using a child Presto card were fraudulently made by riders over 12 years of age. Children 12 and under ride free, and the child Presto card is to allow a child to pass through the fare gates at a subway entrance. Fare evasion using a child Presto card results in an estimated $23-million annual loss in revenue. Demand for child Presto cards grew by 75 percent in 2019 while demand for other concessions on a Presto card grew by only 25 percent. In September and October 2021, Presto readers were upgraded so that if a child card is used, the reader sounds a three-toned chime and flashes a yellow light.

In April 2021, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) urged Metrolinx and the TTC to provide more locations in poorer, racialized neighbourhoods for Presto fare purchases. Away from subway stations, there are often few Shoppers Drug Mart outlets in such neighbourhoods, largely in North York, Scarborough and Etobicoke. For example, in the York South–Weston riding, with the transition from legacy to Presto fare media, the number of fare outlets dropped from 37 legacy fare vendors to 2 Shoppers outlets for Presto fares. Shoppers has an exclusive contract for third-party Presto sales. Many riders also lack internet access for online purchases, and riders with mobility problems are inconvenienced.

As of 25 September 2021, Presto readers on TTC surface vehicles had their screen formats updated to provide customers with more information, such as the amount of fare paid, the remaining balance, the transfer expiry time, or whether a monthly or an all-day ride pass was used. If a Presto card or ticket is declined, the screen displays the reason. If a child card is used, the reader sounds a three-toned chime. If a Fair Pass card is used, the reader sounds one beep instead of the previous two. Similar upgrades to the Presto readers at subway station fare gates took place on 4 October 2021.

Current fare arrangements

Proof of payment (1990–present)

POP was introduced on the Queen streetcar lines in 1990 to make better use of the Articulated Light Rail Vehicles on the line. Prior to August 2014, the POP system was limited to the Queen routes because these routes do not enter a fare-paid terminal of subway stations, due to concerns of further fare evasion. POP is incompatible with the paperless transfer system used by the rail system. The POP system was extended to the 510 Spadina route on 31 August 2014 coinciding with the introduction on that day of new Flexity Outlook streetcars; this is because operators on these vehicles are in a closed cab and are not responsible for fare collection and do not normally issue paper POP transfers. The 504 King followed on 1 January 2015, and the 509 Harbourfront route also became POP on 29 March 2015 when the Flexity streetcars were added on that line. Since mid-2015, route 511 Bathurst had operated occasionally on a POP system during special events, such as the 2015 Pan American Games and the annual Canadian National Exhibition, when the Flexity streetcars are used on that line.

Since 14 December 2015, all TTC streetcar lines, including streetcar replacement shuttle buses, have operated on a proof-of-payment (POP) system at all times, in which case fare payments are treated on an honour system and passengers must carry proof that they have paid the correct fares to show during random spot checks (which can take place on board a vehicle or at subway stations served by streetcar routes). Passengers with POP can board at any door of the vehicle. Forms of POP include paper transfers, one-ride paper POP tickets, Presto cards and Presto tickets.

Upon request, passengers must present POP. TTC staff such as fare inspectors or special constables who conduct random fare inspections also carry handheld Presto verification machines to verify Presto payments and check transaction history. A summons such as a fine can be issued if passengers fail to produce POP upon request.

Presto time-based transfers (2017–present)

In November 2017, a Toronto transit advocacy group, TTCriders, along with Toronto mayor John Tory and two Toronto city councillors including TTC chair Josh Colle

HOME


Content is Copyleft
Website design, code, and AI is Copyrighted (c) 2014-2017 by Stephen Payne


Consider donating to Wikimedia



As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases