In London, it’s an Oyster. In Hong Kong, they call it an Octopus. Boston has its Charlie Card, and Atlanta loves its Breeze. And now York Region – along with other GTHA and Ottawa municipalities – is moving into the ranks of cities with smartcard technology for their transit system.
I’m talking of course about the launch of PRESTO this week in York Region on YRT\Viva services. PRESTO was developed through a partnership with the Province of Ontario, GO Transit and nine municipal transit partners in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and in Ottawa, and will allow customers to ride on any participating transit system without pre-purchasing printed tickets or tokens.
Having access to PRESTO is great news for transit riders in York Region. Because PRESTO uses “stored-value” fare payments, customers can reload their card on the PRESTO website or at designated locations, and never have to worry about having a printed ticket or the right change. All you have to do is tap your card either on the PRESTO card reader at a vivastation before you board Viva, or on the on-board PRESTO machine on a YRT bus, and the system will automatically deduct the fare from your card’s balance (GO Transit riders also tap off at the end of their trip).
Smartcards are the way of the future for all great transit systems, and with good reason. These cards speed up the process of buying transit fares, they eliminate the paper waste associated with tickets, and they mean you’ll never need to rummage through your pockets for bus fare again.
One of the most important, long-term benefits is that, because smartcards often involve multiple transit services, they make it easier for passengers to travel across municipal boundaries. Instead of needing to purchase individual tickets for separate transit services, PRESTO is the only ticket riders will need to use on any participating system, including YRT\Viva, GO Transit (selected rail stations), Brampton Transit (ZÜM), Burlington Transit, Hamilton Street Railway, Mississauga Transit (MiWay), Oakville Transit, OC Transpo (Ottawa) and at select TTC subway stations. And more stations and transit agencies are joining PRESTO throughout 2011 and 2012.
The PRESTO website and call centre (1-8-PRESTO-123) have all the information you’ll need to learn more about how PRESTO works in general, and where it can take you.
To introduce riders to PRESTO, YRT\Viva has representatives showing riders how to use PRESTO, helping them register online, and distributing up to 5,000 specially-priced cards. To get your new PRESTO card, check out the YRT\Viva website for distribution locations and hours.
4 replies on “York Region is ready to Presto”
It still isn’t explained clearly enough. If I go for a ride do I get a receipt? I mean what about those guys who demand proof of payment? Does showing them a Presto card cut it or do I need something more? This of course applies to GO as well as Viva. My searching so far doesn’t answer this question.
DaleA: Hi Sean,
On YRT and Viva buses, if a PRESTO card has been used to pay a fare or transfer, the PRESTO card registers this during the time it’s valid for (e.g., 2 hours). Transit Enforcement Officers are able to scan PRESTO cards on the spot, and see that the fare has been paid and is valid. The YRT\Viva call centre is the best source for information about transit enforcement, so feel free to contact them at 1.866.668.3978 or transitinfo@york.ca.
Hi thanks for the information
I agree that the Presto cards are really making the commuting less complicated but while they can be used to access GO Trains and other Transit lines, they are not included in the local GRT buses yet. And the local bus service doesn’t seem to plan the implementation of the cards any time soon. If the whole point of creating such a system as Presto cards, with both its advantages and problems was to make the everyday travelling more convenient, it does not make much sense to me to exclude those lines. It should be one integrated system of paying to make it all worthwhile.
Wow, what great 1990’s technology, please just put my pass or ticket on my cellphone or smartphone and presto your done.
DaleA: Hi Fraser,
As transit agencies around the world are moving toward open payment and mobile fare payment, future generations of PRESTO will support credit card, debit card and mobile device payment. PRESTO will also further evolve to offer new products and services such as the option to pay for parking and other amenities. Please check http://www.prestocard.ca for more information and updates on this evolving technology.