Ontario Launching Credit and Debit Payment on TTC
The Ontario government has announced that Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) riders will be able use credit or debit cards to pay fares, including cards on a smartphone or smartwatch starting Tuesday, August 15th. Whether this will coax riders out of rideshare and back onto the TTC remains to be seen.
Taxi industry members are supportive of the move: Kristine Hubbard, Operation Manager at Beck Taxi told Taxi News, “I’m not concerned about it taking away from Taxi business. In fact it will make life easier for our Wheel Trans clients which makes life easier for drivers. It will be great not to see tourists walking away from subway stations with their luggage because they don’t have a Presto card.”
“The presto machines in our Wheel-Trans vehicles are now enabled to accept open payments, which makes it easier for both customers and drivers,” says Abdul Mohamoud, CEO of Co-op Cabs.
Veteran driver Jafar Mirsalari says it will probably have more of a negative impact on Uber than Taxi: “it can’t get any worse than what it is now for taxi industry! Maybe not a good news for Uber, though.”
Newly-elected Mayor Olivia Chow says, “Giving people the option of paying with their debit or credit cards makes it easier for people to choose the TTC to get to work, school or anywhere else. As a transit rider, I’m pleased to have new options for paying my fare quickly and conveniently. As Mayor, I am committed to making the TTC more reliable and convenient for everyone, and today’s announcement is an exciting step in the right direction.”
The launch of credit and debit payment on the TTC follows the successful introduction of more payment options across many local transit systems in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Areas. In addition to the TTC, riders can also use credit or debit to pay fares on GO Transit, UP Express, Brampton Transit, Burlington Transit, Durham Region Transit, Hamilton Street Railway, MiWay (in Mississauga), Oakville Transit and York Region Transit.
The Ontario government is also working with Metrolinx to introduce virtual PRESTO cards for mobile wallets in the coming months.
