The Government of Ontario and Metrolinx are launching the new One Fare program, which eliminates double fares when you transfer between the TTC, GO Transit and other Greater Toronto Area transit agencies.

Starting Monday, February 26, if you pay with a PRESTO fare card, PRESTO in Google Wallet, debit or credit card, you can transfer for free between the TTC and Brampton Transit, Durham Region Transit, MiWay and York Region Transit during the two-hour free transfer period. TTC passengers paying single-ride fares connecting to and from GO Transit during the three-hour transfer period benefit from a fare discount, making their TTC fare free.

The program significantly reduces the cost of riding public transit, if you travel aboard trains, buses or streetcars from two or more transit agencies. For example, adult-fare passengers transferring between the TTC and GO save $3.30 for a single trip. If you’re using the TTC and YRT, you can save as much as $3.88 for a single adult trip during the two-hour free transfer period. According to an Ontario news release, One Fare “will save riders an average of $1,600 each year” and “result in more than eight million new rides every year, [making] cross-boundary travel more affordable and convenient.”

Ontario, through Metrolinx, is reimbursing 100 per cent of eligible trips to transit agencies for fare-box revenue “lost” due to this program. Eligible trips include those during the free transfer period using a PRESTO fare card, PRESTO in Mobile Wallet, debit or credit card. It doesn’t not apply to passengers paying with cash, or with a PRESTO ticket, TTC ticket or token.

Here’s how it works:

• PRESTO automatically calculates a 100-percent discount and applies it to your PRESTO, credit or debit account. You must tap on and off with the same card.
• Transfers are valid for two hours after you start your trip on local transit and for three hours after you start your trip on GO Transit.
• The payment method you use to tap and pay a fare is a your proof of payment. Fare inspectors will tap your card, phone or watch on an inspection device to confirm that you have paid.
• If you’re connecting between TTC and GO Transit, the TTC component of your trip becomes free, regardless of the direction in which you’re travelling — the PRESTO system discounts the cost of your TTC trip from the overall trip cost.
• If you’re connecting between the TTC and other local transit systems, the second portion of the trip becomes free. Your first payment enables a two-hour free transfer across all systems.
• You must tap your PRESTO card, PRESTO in Google Wallet, debit or credit card each time you transfer modes. If you’re travelling aboard a GO train or bus, you must tap when you board and when you exit, since GO calculates fares by distance. And, if you’re travelling on a TTC-operated bus in Mississauga or York Region you must continue to tap when exiting the bus. Tapping verifies your two-or three-hour transfer and also provides the GO Transit discount on your card when tapping on the TTC.
• The program applies to all categories of passengers, including adults, youths, post-secondary students, seniors and TTC Fair Discount Pass passengers.

The program doesn’t yet benefit passengers transferring between the TTC and Union Pearson Express. The TTC explains that “UP Express is not included in this program as there are added technical requirements that would have prolonged the rollout. Metrolinx will continue to work with provincial and municipal partners to make cross-boundary travel seamless for transit users.”

Metrolinx says that “Ontario’s One Fare Program supports the 2041 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) (.pdf), advancing the integration of transit services and fares, by reducing barriers and enabling cost-savings to make transferring between transit agencies easier for [passengers].”

After a successful test run in 2020 on UP Express with credit cards, Metrolinx expanded the contactless-payment program to Brampton Transit, MiWay and Oakville Transit, starting Thursday, August 11, 2022. In January 2023, it expanded credit-card payment to most other area systems, except the TTC. As of January 11, 2023, 518,475 passengers have boarded using credit cards on these transit systems.

Tuesday, May 2, 2023, Metrolinx and PRESTO expanded the program to allow riders to use debit cards.

Since Tuesday, August 15, 2023, passengers have been able to use credit or debit cards when paying for TTC fares.

PRESTO has about 4.4 million active users.

This is not the first time that the provincial government has provided a discount to riders transferring between the TTC and Metrolinx. The previous government established a fare-discount program in 2018. The current government cancelled it in 2020.

From the Transit Toronto archives, read:

• January 5, 2018: “Travelling by both Metrolinx and TTC? PRESTO discount starts January 7,” here.
• April 1, 2019: “TTC portion of TTC - GO - UP express discount, increases by 10 cents, April 6,” here.
• February 26, 2020: “Ontario ending TTC - GO - UPX discounted double-fare program, March 31,” here.

Sources:

• Government of Ontario - News release, “Ontario Launching “One Fare” to Save Transit Riders $1,600,” here;
• Metrolinx - “One Fare Program,” here;
• TTC - News release, “TTC joins Ontario’s One Fare Program, eliminating double fares”, here;
• TTC - “Ontario’s One Fare Program,” here;
• YRT - News, “Transfer for free between YRT and TTC starting February 26,” here;
• YRT - “Transfers with TTC (One Fare Program)”, here;
• MiWay - “Transfer for free between MiWay and the TTC starting Feb. 26,” here; and
• Steve Munro - “Ontario Confirms Co-Fare Restoration for TTC (Updated),” here.