A pilot project is being launched to integrate Metrolinx and the Toronto Transit Commission fares, in the hopes it will result in faster, less expensive commutes in the city.
The one-year pilot project will offer passengers unlimited travel on GO's Lakeshore trains between Exhibition, Union and Danforth GO Stations, starting Feb. 1. The Stouffville train between Union and Danforth stations will also be included.
During the pilot project, TTC Metropass holders will be able to purchase a monthly sticker, for $60, that they can affix to their existing Metropass. When flashed, the sticker will allow TTC riders access to the GO trains involved in the project. The stickers will be sold at Danforth, Exhibition, and Union stations starting Jan. 26.
Ontario Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca was joined by transit officials to announce the plan at a press conference Friday morning.
“This also means that customers could save up to 10-15 minutes or more per trip in the downtown core when compared to travel on the TTC subway,” Del Duca told reporters, adding that the project aims to put an end to jam-packed subway trains.
“What we’re trying to do is to see what our ability is to attract people to different transit providers to eliminate congestion,” Metrolinx President and CEO Bruce McCuaig told reporters.
McCuaig said it may be too early to predict how many passengers will use the service but he’s expecting the number to be in the hundreds.
“One of the purposes of having a pilot before it’s rolled is to see how it’s perceived by the customer base,” said McCuaig.
Over the course of the one-year pilot project, transit officials plan to closely monitor its impact on the city’s transit system.
TTC Chair Josh Colle told reporters that the project shows both Metrolinx and TTC are listening to riders and councillors.
Colle also noted that transit-goers can expect to see more announcements like this in the future.
