TTC riders can now tap credit, debit cards to pay for fares

TTC riders are now able to tap their credit or debit cards to pay for fares on the Toronto transit system.

City of Toronto and provincial officials made the announcement last week, saying the change would be implemented as of Tuesday, Aug. 15.

Riders can now use bank cards, including cards on a smartphone or smartwatch, on any type of vehicle. An adult single-use fare on debit or credit is $3.30.

With a PRESTO card, the cost of a single-use adult fare is $3.30. Without a PRESTO card, when using cash or buying a paper ticket, an adult single-use fare is $3.35.

Discounted fares that youth, post-secondary students and seniors get are only available with a PRESTO card, Metrolinx explains.

TTC says the machines the fare inspectors use are equipped to check people’s debit and credit cards to determine whether they’ve paid. And Metrolinx says the two-hour transfer window that allows riders to to enter and exit the TTC within that time frame without being repeatedly charged also applies to people who have paid with debit or credit.

“(This) is a transformative step and will deliver a more convenient, seamless experience for adult fare customers on the TTC and for those travelling between the TTC and the 905,” TTC CEO Rick Leary said.

Last year, Metrolinx introduced the option of tapping with a debit or credit card, including those on a phone or watch, to pay fares on GO Transit, UP Express, Brampton Transit, Burlington Transit, Durham Region Transit, Hamilton Street Railway, MiWay, Oakville Transit, and York Region Transit.

Riders using those systems can also tap their phones or watches on PRESTO readers to pay through the credit card attached to their mobile wallets.

When asked why it took so long for this option to be available on the TTC, Leary said it involved technical upgrades, including “hardware refresh for almost 9,000 devices — that took some time to roll out.”

Leary also noted the move could help improve ridership on the TTC, which he said continues to rebound since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While the average weekday boardings stand at roughly 78 per cent of pre-COVID levels, ridership among less frequent customers — that’s those who ride the TTC four times a week or less — stands at 118 per cent of pre-COVID levels.”

The provincial agency is also working on introducing virtual PRESTO cards for mobile wallets in the coming months.

Earlier this month, Metrolinx lowered the cost of a PRESTO card to $4 from $6. PRESTO cards are available at transit customer service outlets, Shoppers Drug Mart locations, fare vending machines and ticket vending machines.

With files from Lucas Casaletto of CityNews