Confused about Presto? You’re not alone.
In fact, there have been many questions and complaints about the transition to the new system. Due to increasing interest in Presto, Metrolinx has been holding free Presto information sessions in libraries, community-living facilities and seniors homes.
Some commuters still use tickets and tokens to access the TTC. Due to the transition to Presto, the TTC will stop selling these in mid-2019 and, by the end of the year, it will stop accepting them altogether, leaving only cash and Presto as payment options.
“It’s very important for us to provide public outreach,” Metrolinx business analyst Ryan Perron said in an email. “There’s a lot of people that have a lot of questions on this transition to Presto and we are dedicated to ensuring those questions get answered. We want customers to have a smooth transition to using Presto.”
Among those questions are how the Presto machines work and how to load money onto the card.
Sixteen people attended one of Perron’s information sessions Jan. 17 at North York Central library, including librarian Marie Belanger.
“Ryan was very good with all of the seniors,” she said. “He was very patient with all of the questions and he listened very well.”
Perron’s sessions cover how to purchase a Presto card, how to load it and how to use it.
At the session, Perron explained the reasons why the TTC transitioned to Presto, among them to fight fraudulent fares and save approximately three per cent on collecting each fare (they no longer have to print paper tickets, redistribute tokens or provide plastic passes on a weekly and monthly basis).
The transition also allows the TTC to offer new products for commuters such as the two-hour time-based transfer, the TTC Double Discount Fare for riders connecting with GO Transit or UP Express services and the City of Toronto’s Fair Pass Discount, he said.
More than 30 Presto sessions have been held so far; the goal is 100.
The next session will be at Riverdale Library on Feb. 8 at 2 p.m.