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Ontario Launches “One Fare” Program LinkingGRT with GO Transit and GTA Services

GRT riders using multiple transit agencies will transfer at no extra charge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                        March 15, 2024

KITCHENER — The Ontario government is keeping costs down for public transit riders with the launch of “One Fare,” which will save riders an average of $1,600 each year. Beginning in February 2024, riders pay only once as they transfer for free between the GRT and participating transit agencies in the Greater Toronto Area, including GO Transit and TTC Transit.

“This is great news for commuters along the Grand River Transit system who wish to make their way to Toronto for work, school or recreation and vice versa,” said Mike Harris, Member of Provincial Parliament for Kitchener-Conestoga. “I like the notion of being able to hop on the GRT to the Kitchener GO, hop off at the Exhibition GO station and take in a TFC game on just one fare. This program will reduce costs and make public transit travel a viable option while also reducing congestion on our roads and highways.”

One Fare builds on improvements the government made in 2022 to eliminate fares between GO Transit and several transit agencies in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The government will continue to work with municipal partners to identify opportunities to make transit more seamless for riders by harmonizing discounted fares and other measures.

Fully funded by the Ontario government, One Fare will lead to over eight million new rides every year and will make cross-boundary travel more affordable and convenient for students, seniors and other commuters transferring between Grand River Transit, GO Transit, TTC, Brampton Transit, Durham Region Transit, MiWay and York Region Transit.

“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.”

One Fare builds on improvements the government made in 2022 to eliminate fares between GO Transit and several transit agencies in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The government will continue to work with municipal partners to identify opportunities to make transit more seamless for riders by harmonizing discounted fares and other measures.

How It Works

  1. Transit riders can take GRT from any starting point to Kitchener GO. They simply tap on when boarding GRT and then tap the validator at Kitchener GO when they arrive at the station.
  2. The validator will reimburse their GRT fare to their EasyGO card.
  3. At Kitchener GO, the rider should then put away their EasyGO card and take out their preferred PRESTO payment method (PRESTO card, digital PRESTO card, credit card, debit card or smart device) and tap onto the GO. 
  4. When arriving at their GO destination (Union Station or any GO station in Toronto), the rider should tap off on PRESTO (remembering to use the same PRESTO payment method)
  5. When the rider then taps onto the TTC, they won’t be charged a second fare to continue their journey.

Over the next decade, Ontario is investing $70.5 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 and the Yonge North Subway Extension. 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.

Quick Facts

  • 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 province continues to expedite the planning, design and construction of its five priority transit projects under the Building Transit Faster Act, 2020, which includes the Ontario Line, the Scarborough Subway Extension, the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, the Yonge North Subway Extension and Hamilton Light Rail Transit project.
  • Ontario’s One Fare Program is part of over 100 actions outlined in the Greater Golden Horseshoe Transportation Plan, including fare and service integration.