Go Transit riders will be paying more to commute in 2014, but it won’t hurt as much for those who ride using the Presto system.
The Metrolinx board approved a report Thursday recommending a roughly five per cent fare increase for Go riders. The tiered fare hike is set to go into effect in February 2014.
The move means the cost of a single adult fare will rise 35 cents on fares between $4.85 and $6.15; 45 cents on fares between $6.16 and $7.80; and 55 cents on fares greater than $7.80.
However, Go riders who use a Presto card will see fares go up by less because the adopted report also recommends a slight increase in the discount for those who use the Presto system. The bigger discount means Presto users would see the price of a shorter ride increase by about 25 cents while fares for longer trips will go up by as much as 38 cents.
Discounts for those who use the system 36 times or more in a single month will not change.
Overall, a majority of customers who use the Presto cards will see a fare increase of about 4.8 per cent, the report says.
Metrolinx says most of its riders are currently using Presto cards.
Go Transit typically sees a fare increase from year to year. Metrolinx says the increase is necessary to meet increasing costs and to provide service improvements. While Go ridership is up, the increased revenue does not cover those costs, the report says.
Service improvements introduced over the last year include increased train service on the Lakeshore lines, new parking facilities and the addition of extra bus trips on various corridors.
Wider Presto rollout to begin on TTC
On Thursday the board will also receive an update on Presto integration across transit systems in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
The update says 77 per cent of Go Transit riders are now using Presto, making it the transit system where the pay card has seen the highest percentage of take-up by riders.
Brampton has the second highest rate of Presto adoption, with 59 per cent of riders on board with the pay-card.
The report also says Presto is working with the TTC to finalize dates for rolling out more Presto terminals at TTC stations. The terminals are currently located at 14 select subway stations. Metrolinx has said full deployment of Presto terminals across the TTC will begin sometime next year and should be complete by 2016.
