PRESTO credit card payment expands to York Region Transit

Adult fare riders can tap their credit cards to pay on a PRESTO device, including credit cards on a smartphone or a smartwatch, as of Jan. 23

Newmarkettoday.ca, Toronto.citynews.ca, Cp24.com
Jan. 24, 2024

Riders can now tap their credit cards to pay fares on a PRESTO device, including credit cards on a smartphone or a smartwatch, to travel on York Region Transit.

Starting today, Jan. 23, riders paying adult regular fares on YRT, as well as Durham Region Transit, Burlington Transit and Hamilton Street Railway, can take advantage of the further expansion of credit payment options using PRESTO devices.

“This latest milestone in the continuous advancement of the PRESTO system will provide users greater ease and convenience when travelling for work, school, leisure, and more,” said Associate Minister of Transportation Stan Cho in a news release.

The expansion of credit payment on PRESTO devices began in 2021 on the Union Pearson Express. In 2022, the option was extended to the entire GO Transit network and the Brampton, Mississauga and Oakville transit systems.

As of Jan. 11, 2023, there has been 518,475 boardings using credit cards on these transit systems.

"As more people are choosing to use transit to travel to their destination, we continue to strive to make transit more convenient and accessible. We welcome new and updated technologies that add convenience and payment options for travellers on York Region Transit," said Wayne Emmerson, York Region chairman and CEO.

The province is also working to expand the credit card payment system to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and to introduce debit tapping payment capability to all transit agencies in the GTHA.

“We are thrilled to see transit riders using new PRESTO payment options like contactless credit, making their transit experience even easier, more flexible and convenient,” said Barclay Hancock, chief payments officer, Metrolinx. “Every day, more riders are tapping their credit cards on agencies where this is already available, and we are excited to be expanding this functionality to Durham, York, Burlington and Hamilton.”

PRESTO has approximately 4.4 million active customers.