Three SmartTrack fare options head to Metrolinx board, no word on price

SmartTrack may be pushing forward with the announcement of six new stations but there’s still no word on how much riders will be shelling out to hop on board this new transit system.

During the mayoral election, Tory said that SmartTrack would cost riders the same as a TTC fare, which currently sits at $3.25 in cash.

Since then, very little has been said about as to how much riders could be paying for the new service.

Even Bruce McQuaig, CEO of Metrolinx, wouldn’t speculate on what kind of savings riders could have with an integrated transit system.

“We don’t know that yet. I think the key piece is that people want to have more service, people are very mindful of how much does it cost them to use the service,” he explained.

“When we reduced the fare on the Union-Pearson Express we saw a significant increase in the amount of local commuters who were using that service. And that’s a service that runs every 15 minutes,” he continued.


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When the new Liberty Village GO station was announced on Tuesday, which will also serve as a SmartTrack station, city councillor Mike Layton suggested that the price of SmartTrack from that neighbourhood would be less than $5.

“It’s only an eight-minute ride from here to Union Station on the GO compared to 45 minutes on the streetcar,” said Layton. “But it’s just not worth that $5 premium.”

“I’m optimistic that with Presto and with an adjusted fare structure, like what is being proposed, we will help realize this truly integrated transit network in the west end of the city,” he continued.

Three fare options for SmartTrack will be presented to the Metrolinx board of directors at its next meeting on June 28.

The first option would be to modify the existing model which would see passengers transferring from the TTC and the 905 at a reduced or no cost. As well, those transferring between TTC and GO Transit would do so at a reduced cost.

The second option would see the implementation of a zone-based system where commuters pay a fee based on how many zones they travel. A similar system is used in cities such as London and San Francisco.

The third option would be a hybrid system, combining both distance and flat-fare systems. This option would create a new regional system where customers on buses and streetcars pay a flat fee but those on subways, LRTs and GO Transit pay based on the distance travelled.

According to Metrolinx, the easiest of the three options to implement would be the modify the existing model. It would have the greatest increase in GO ridership but it would have the least increase in transfers between TTC and 905 transit systems.

The zone based system, which would be complicated to implement and significantly change the customer experience, would create the greatest ridership increase – particularly on local buses, Metrolinx found.

The hybrid option, also a complicated system to implement, would find the greatest increase in transfers between TTC and 905 transit systems but have the least growth in GO Transit.

In the documents posted on Metrolinx’s website, none of these fare options come with prices attached.

Metrolinx said it’s still working with the other transit agencies to develop a final recommendation which will be presented to the board in the fall.

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