Forgot your PRESTO card at home? Don’t worry about it. TTC riders will soon join the rest of the GTA and be able to tap their debit and credit cards to pay their fare starting this summer.
As of May 2, Metrolinx announced that select transit users are now able to tap either their debit or credit card on PRESTO devices “to travel across participating municipal transit systems.”
The only participating transit lines are: GO Transit, UP Express, Brampton Transit, Burlington Transit, Durham Region Transit, Hamilton Street Railway, MiWay in Mississauga, Oakville Transit, York Region Transit and Para Transpo in Ottawa.
As for one of the biggest transit companies, the TTC, they were not part of this recent roll out.
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But, in an email to Curiocity, Metrolinx shared that it is working with the TTC to bring this new method of tap and even recently installed new devices on streetcars and buses. However it’ll take a few months for the city’s transit to be on board.
“The Ontario government, Metrolinx and the TTC are working in partnership to deliver these new, modern payment options as quickly as possible to riders on the TTC. To be ready for credit and debit payment, TTC devices require upgrading,” said Metrolinx.
“Come summer 2023, you’ll be able to tap your credit and debit card to pay your fare on the TTC.”
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The way it works is pretty simple. Just like a PRESTO card, customers will need to “physically remove their debit card from their wallet or phone cover and tap.”
If you have cards connected via Apple Pay, a mobile wallet on your smart phones or smartwatches, that can be used too.
Depending on the transit system you take, such as GO Transit, the price of the trip will vary depending on how you travel, of course. For a thorough explanation, click here.
As for the exact launch date for the TTC, that has yet to be announced.
The days of saying “I forgot my PRESTO card” are almost over.
Karen Doradea
Senior Staff Writer, Toronto – Karen is a multimedia journalist based in Toronto. With a strong knowledge of reporting and editing through all forms of media, she has a true passion for storytelling. She carries several years of journalistic experience and has covered the Toronto scene from local stories to national news. When Karen isn’t publishing fire content, you can find her binge-watching sitcoms on Netflix, at a must-try restaurant, or scrolling endlessly on TikTok looking for the next best thing – News never sleeps.
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