PRESTO now accepting debit tap payments in many parts of GTA
Posted May 2, 2023 4:26 pm.
Transit riders across large parts of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) can use debit cards to pay their fare starting today as the Ontario government looks to expand the payment option to Toronto in the coming months.
The Ontario government says the PRESTO system now accepts debit card taps on GO Transit, along with several municipal transit agencies, including in Hamilton, Mississauga, Brampton, Burlington, Oakville, York Region and Durham Region.
On GO Transit and UP Express, the fare will be based on the distance of the trip.
“Just like a credit card and PRESTO card, customers will need to physically remove their debit card from their wallet or phone cover and tap,” Metrolinx noted in a press release. “Payment can also be made by using the cards connected to a mobile wallet on smartphones or smartwatches.”
The government says since it launched credit payment options in August 2022, PRESTO has reported a million card taps.
The province says it’s working with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) to introduce both credit and debit payment options this summer.
Paratransit riders in Burlington, Durham Region, Hamilton, York Region, Oakville and Ottawa can also now use both credit and debit payment.
The government says PRESTO has about 4.7 million active users.
With files from Lucas Casaletto of CityNews
