‘One Fare’ program launches today for GTA transit riders, here’s what you need to know

Goodbye double fares and hello one fee for transit riders in the GTA!

As of Monday, transit riders can now transfer for free between the TTC and other transit agencies in the GTA. 

This is part of Ontario’s One Fare program that aims to provide customers with additional transit options for better convenience. It includes free transfers between the TTC, GO Transit, Brampton Transit, Durham Region Transit, MiWay, and York Region Transit. 

When travelling between these systems, riders will be charged with the highest single fare related to their trip. 

READ MORE: TTC riders can transfer to and from GO Transit for free as of Feb. 26

All adults, youths, post-secondary students and seniors are eligible for the program. However, the free transfer is only applicable to those who pay by PRESTO card, PRESTO in Google Wallet, debit or credit card. 

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Additionally, customers who pay using a TTC monthly pass will not receive any discounts when transferring, only those who use a monthly pass for Brampton Transit, Durham Region Transit, MiWay or York Region Transit. 

Currently, the UP Express is excluded from the program due to what TTC calls “added technical requirements that would have prolonged the rollout”. Meanwhile, TransHelp in Peel Region is also excluded because it does not accept PRESTO.

The province says the single-fare system is expected to save transit riders around $1,600 a year in fares. 

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HOW DOES IT WORK? 

1. Customers can tap their PRESTO, debit or credit card to transfer between the transit agencies when boarding a TTC bus, streetcar, or on a fare gate when entering a station to pay their TTC fare. The two-hour free transfer will be automatically applied to their card.
2. When transferring, customers must tap using their original method of payment on a PRESTO reader. This will be their free transfer and they will not be charged another fare for two hours within their first tap on the TTC. 
3. For trips starting on GO Transit, customers will have up to three hours to transfer and customers will be reimbursed for the TTC portion of their fare as long as they are within the TTC’s two-hour transfer window.
4. Customers can continue to tap using their original payment method again when transferring to other transit vehicles. When travelling on GO Transit, customers must tap off when they get to their destination, unless a default trip is set. 
5. Riders must remember to tap on and off using the same card in order to get the single fare rate.