NDP Asks Ont. Auditor-General To Investigate Presto Smart Card Contract
Posted August 3, 2010 1:42 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The provincial NDP is asking Ontario’s auditor general to investigate a contract to develop the Presto smart card system for the TTC.
The provincial government signed a $250 million contract with Accenture to develop the smart card payment system across the TTC, but NDP transit critic Cheri DiNovo claims the project is behind schedule and over budget.
The transit commission, meanwhile, has said it plans to move forward with an open payment system that would allow riders to use their debit or credit cards and possibly even their chip-enabled cellphones.
The province has called on the TTC to stick with the Presto system as funding from Queen’s Park, which includes a portion of the gas tax, depends on it. The TTC committed to the Presto system last November.
GO Transit and transit services in the 905 regions have already implemented the Presto system in varying degrees.
TTC Chair Adam Giambrone has said he believes the Presto system is already outdated and will be too expensive.
Last month the TTC issued a request for proposals for the new fare system and said it plans to roll out the new technology by the fall. Giambrone said the new system would accept the Presto smart card.
