One Fare: Saving you money with every ride

Beginning February 26, 2024, transit riders will only pay one fare to transfer between the TTC and neighbouring municipalities in the GTA, including GO Transit. For an adult who commutes five days a week, this could save an average $1,600 a year. “Saving money is important to all of us. Transit cost will no longer be a barrier for students taking the transit to class or for those travelling to work or medical appointments,” said Christine Hogarth, MPP, Etobicoke-Lakeshore.

NEWS February 5, 2024

ETOBICOKE — 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 February 26, 2024, riders will pay only once as they transfer for free between the TTC and participating transit agencies in the Greater Toronto Area, including GO Transit.

“Our government is on a mission to keep costs down for the hardworking people of Ontario,” said Premier Doug Ford. “One Fare will eliminate double fares and put $1,600 back into the pockets of transit riders. Alongside the hundreds of dollars we’re saving for drivers by cutting the gas tax, scrapping road tolls and eliminating the licence plate sticker fee, we’re providing commuters with real, tangible relief.”

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 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.

“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.”

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.

Quotes

“Ontario’s One Fare Program is another example of how we’re saving commuters time and money. Whether it’s to work, school or social events, our government’s historic investments in Ontario’s public transportation system is making it easier, faster and cheaper for people to get where they need to go.”

– Prabmeet Sarkaria
Minister of Transportation

“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.”

– Phil Verster
Metrolinx, CEO

Additional Resources

Media Contacts

Saurabh Kapoor

Senior Communications Specialist | Constituency Assistant

Office of MPP Christine Hogarth, Etobicoke-Lakeshore

416-259-2249

saurabh.kapoor@pc.ola.org