BRAMPTON – The Ontario government is making it easier to take transit by giving riders more ways to pay. Beginning today, riders on GO Transit, UP Express, Brampton Transit, Burlington Transit, Durham Region Transit, Hamilton Street Railway, MiWay in Mississauga, Oakville Transit and York Region Transit can pay fares by tapping a debit card on a PRESTO device, including debit cards on a smartphone or smartwatch.
“This latest milestone for the PRESTO system gives transit riders yet another convenient payment option when travelling for work, school, leisure, and more,” said Stan Cho, Associate Minister of Transportation. “The launch of debit card payment on PRESTO devices is just one more way our government is making the transit experience easier for Ontarians.”
Riders can also use debit payment on paratransit services in Burlington, Durham Region, Hamilton, York Region, Oakville, and Ottawa. The new debit payment option comes as PRESTO reports a million card taps on its devices since the launch of credit card payment in August 2022.
“With millions of active users across the GTHA, the launch of debit payment on PRESTO devices is another way our government is making transit more convenient and accessible for Ontarians,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “By increasing transit payment options, we are giving more people more options to access public transit in ways that work for them.”
The Ontario government is also working with the Toronto Transit Commission to introduce both credit and debit payment options for Toronto transit riders this summer.
"We are thrilled to bring our customers yet another way to pay their transit fare with the addition of debit payment now accepted on PRESTO devices across participating transit agencies. This is just another way we continue to innovate the PRESTO payment experience and make it easier to travel seamlessly across the region."
- Barclay Hancock
Chief Payments Officer, Metrolinx
"Expanding Interac Debit to more transit authorities in the PRESTO network will provide transit riders with a quick and convenient option to pay for a ride directly from their banking account. When transit authorities add Interac Debit, they are offering riders a payment method that almost 30 million Canadians already use for day-to-day transactions. Interac is proud to play a part in supporting the needs of transit riders in Ontario."
- William Keliehor
Chief Commercial Officer, Interac Corp