Government of Ontario to launch One Fare program Feb. 26

The government of Ontario is launching the One Fare program Feb. 26.  The program will eliminate double fares for customers transferring between participating transit agencies in the Greater Toronto Area, saving riders an estimated C$1,600 (US$1,188) per year. 

“Our government is on a mission to keep costs down for the hardworking people of Ontario,” Ontario said Premier Doug Ford. “One Fare will eliminate double fares and put $1,600 back into the pockets of transit riders. “We’re providing commuters with real, tangible relief.” 

The government of Ontario notes the One Fare program will lead to more than eight million new rides yearly and will make cross-boundary travel more affordable and convenient for students, seniors and other commuters. One Fare builds on improvements the government of Ontario made in 2022 to eliminate fares between GO Transit and several transit agencies in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The government of Ontario’s One Fare Program is part of more than 100 actions outlined in the Greater Golden Horseshoe Transportation Plan, including fare and service integration. 

Since 2023, transit users have been able to tap debit or credit cards on PRESTO devices to travel on all PRESTO participating transit agencies throughout the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and there have been more than 29 million PRESTO contactless boardings to date.   

The participating transit agencies in the One Fare program includes: 

• Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)   
• York Region Transit (YRT)  
• GO Transit   
• Brampton Transit   
• Durham Region Transit   
• MiWay   

“At a time when many families feel like they’re struggling to get ahead, our government is making public transit simpler, more convenient and more affordable,” said Vijay Thanigasalam, associate minister of transportation. “Under the leadership of Premier Ford, we will continue to make historic investments in public transit and put money back in commuters’ pockets, where it belongs.” 

During the next decade, the government of Ontario is investing C$70.5 billion (US$52.3 billion) to transform public transit in the province, including the largest subway expansion in Canadian history with the Ontario Line, the Scarborough Subway Extension, the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, the Yonge North Subway Extension and the Hamilton Light Rail Transit project. By 2031, the province will introduce two-way, all-day GO train service, every 15 minutes in key corridors in the Greater Golden Horseshoe to connect more people to transit, jobs and housing for generations to come. 

“Public transit should be a convenient and affordable option for getting to work, school or running errands,” said Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto. “Ontario’s One Fare will make it easier and cheaper to transfer between the TTC, GO Transit and other transit agencies. When governments continue to work together, we can make life more affordable and invest in services families rely on, like high quality public transit that costs you less.”  

"Ontario’s One Fare Program is a major milestone for fare integration that helps connect more communities across the Greater Toronto Area. Programs like this will reduce barriers to cross-boundary travel and will bring more people to transit, estimating more than 20,000 new riders per day. Metrolinx will continue working with the Ontario government to make taking transit from Brampton, Oshawa or anywhere in between simpler, more convenient and more affordable than ever before,” said Phil Verster, Metrolinx CEO.