Transit card question: PRESTO and smaller Ontario cities

eternallyme · #1 Posted: **Sep 17, 2011, 1:34 AM**

I am just wondering, with it becoming standard in the next couple years across the GTA, Hamilton and Ottawa areas, will it also be expanded to the smaller and mid-sized cities? Could it become province-wide? (It would be weird using the same farecard in Toronto as in Thunder Bay, for example).

vid · #2 Posted: **Sep 17, 2011, 1:38 AM**

It would be cool to see it province wide. Thunder Bay was going to get smartpasses for transit last year but for some reason didn't. Most people that ride the bus here these days use some sort of card to board it, so it would be the logical next step.

Including Thunder Bay in a provincial system would probably be silly, but the Toronto region should definitely have an integrated fare network. From Barrie to Niagara, KW and Brantford to Oshawa or even Peterborough. Everything well within Toronto's sphere of influence should be well connected and easily accessible.

eternallyme · #3 Posted: **Sep 17, 2011, 1:41 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vid

It would be cool to see it province wide. Thunder Bay was going to get smartpasses for transit last year but for some reason didn't. Most people that ride the bus here these days use some sort of card to board it, so it would be the logical next step.

Including Thunder Bay in a provincial system would probably be silly, but the GTA should definitely have an integrated fare network.

It would still be sensible to make a province-wide system, although as a late step. Mid-sized southern cities would be ideal next (i.e. London, Windsor, Kitchener/Waterloo) followed by smaller cities (i.e. Brantford, Guelph, Greater Sudbury, Kingston, etc.) then the small towns.

new age · #4 Posted: **Sep 17, 2011, 9:39 AM**

London Transit has stated its intent to switch to a smart fair card system.

eternallyme · #5 Posted: **Sep 17, 2011, 2:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by new age

London Transit has stated its intent to switch to a smart fair card system.

Is PRESTO being considered?

new age · #6 Posted: **Sep 19, 2011, 3:38 AM**

I don't know, there was money reserved for it in the budget. If I am remembering correctly the LFP quoted it when talking of fare increases as well.

eternallyme · #7 Posted: **Dec 5, 2011, 8:33 PM**

Possible hint it will become province-wide (page 2)?

http://metrolinx.com/en/docs/pdf/boa...ov23_final.pdf

2020 would be a better goal for getting it on all the smaller transit agencies though. Next target should be the mid-sized cities, such as Waterloo Region, London, Windsor, Kingston, Barrie, Niagara Region and Greater Sudbury.

matt602 · #8 Posted: **Dec 6, 2011, 1:38 AM**

It's pretty much up to the province (Metrolinx) to pony up the money to the municipalities, and the ones in the GTA are of utmost importance as they have the highest ridership.

PRESTO is also in it's infancy right now and still working out a lot of teething problems. Hamilton only fully adopted the system 6 months ago and is still working out a lot of bugs with the readers. Usage is still scarce since regular tickets and passes are still readily available. I think the hugest PRESTO user base comes from those who regular commute by GO or GO+local transit, as GO has implemented the program the fullest.