Metrolinx cutting Presto fares on short GO Transit trips as of April 20

Fares dropping for shorter trips, but rising for longer-distance GO trips

Yorkreion.com
April 3, 2019
Aileen Zangouei

Metrolinx is reducing Presto fares on short-distance GO Transit journeys by at least $1, and in some cases by more than $2, starting April 20.

For GO trips shorter than 10 kilometres, Presto fares are dropping to $3.70. That's down 21 per cent from the previous lowest fare of $4.71.

For some trips, the current GO fare levels are reduced by as much as 40 per cent, down to the new $3.70.

This reduction will apply to trips made between any GO stations or bus stops that are within roughly 10 km of each other.

Those who buy single-fare tickets will also benefit from the lowered fare by saving almost $1, with the lowest paper fare of $5.30 reduced to $4.40.

"These significant reductions in short-distance fares, by at least 21 per cent and by as much as 40 per cent for some journeys, are a huge step toward making public transit even more affordable and more attractive for the people in our communities,” said Metrolinx president and CEO Phil Verster.

"This gives our GO customers a better, faster and easier way to get across town for work, trips to the mall, family visits or a night out.

"Ninety-two per cent of our GO journeys are paid for by Presto and on some short-distance journeys the fare reduction is as high as 40 per cent because we stretched the fixed $3.70 fare out to 10 km," Verser said.

"We are now running 359 more train trips per week than 18 months ago, growing our services by more than 20 per cent in the last year alone. We anticipate an annual ridership increase of two million from these lower, short-distance fares."

However, along with the short-distance fare reduction, Metrolinx is introducing a fare increase for longer-distance GO trips.

The Presto fares for trips greater than about 10 km will increase by up to four per cent. With these fare changes, the discount for using Presto instead of single-fare paper tickets will increase from 11 to 16 per cent.

The last time Metrolinx raised the GO fare was around two years ago on Sept. 20, 2017.

"We are actively reducing our costs and expenses every year, by 5.2 per cent last year and another five per cent this year," said Verster said. “Having fares unchanged for nearly 20 months, inflationary pressures require us to make a fare adjustment now.”

According to a Metrolinx news release, its board of directors will vote on the proposed fare changes on April 10.