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GO to Get Rid of Monthly Passes for Presto Cards

Posted By: Michelle Rosa · 10/15/2012 5:49:00 AM

GO monthly passes are out and Presto is in.

Starting in the new year, those monthly GO passes will be a thing of the past and you'll have to adopt the new Presto electronic card system or pay per ride with single tickets.

Officials were just waiting until a majority of riders started using Presto before they got rid of the monthly passes altogether, and right now there are about 350-thousand Presto cards in use.

GO monthly pass sales dropped by 45 percent this past year and they only accounted for about 15 percent of sales.

Presto cards need to be loaded with money as they run out and users tap of the card on an electronic reader each time they use GO.

By the 2015 Pan Am games, most TTC stations, streetcars and buses will be able to read Presto cards.

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  1. calvinhc posted on 10/15/2012 08:55 AM
    I am surprised that anyone still uses the paper passes at all.

    With the paper pass, one has to fork over the ENTIRE cost of the pass before the month begins. Most pass users know they need it so that it will be less expensive than some other form of fare payment, but what if you end up being off sick for a week or two in the month?

    With Presto, you only need to have a balance on the card for the next few days and can add as little as $10 at a time. As you go through the month, your balance gets single rides deducted (at the 10-ride fare price), but only until you have paid the monthly pass price, then rides are free for the rest of the month. No need to fork out the whole price of the pass up front, and no need to worry about whether you really need a pass for the month or not.

    Best of all, if you don't need the pass for the month, but you do take 32 rides, you still get the transit tax credit.
  2. Cynthia posted on 10/15/2012 01:09 PM
    I still use monthly pass since I am able to get free rides for my children on the weekend. What are this perk. I won't go until it stays. I will be starting a petition if they don't add the same perks as the monthly pass.
    1. calvinhc posted on 10/15/2012 01:38 PM
      @Cynthia Perhaps GO's fare inspectors are sleeping on the job, as Cynthia may be evading fares for her children on the weekends.

      Children under 1 are always free. One child age 1 to 5 gets to travel for free with another fare paying passenger. Other than that, children 6 and over, and extra children 1 to 5 with a fare paying passenger must pay.

      Years ago, when GO celebrated its 25th anniversary (1992), they implemented a bonus for monthly pass holders that allowed one person (of any age) to travel with the pass holder on weekends. This benefit existed for some time after this, but has been gone for years now.
  3. Laila posted on 10/30/2012 07:41 PM
    I am not agree with Presto Card system because its not beneficial for the students. If go eliminate monthly pass system then students commute expense will approximately increase by 40% to 50%, which is really not far for students and monthly pass holders.
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