Photo credit: Twitter/Hamilton Street Railway
The Ontario government recently announced that, starting Monday, Mar. 14, 2022, it will eliminate local transit fare for those connecting with GO Transit service. The new fare structure will apply to a number of transit systems within the Greater Golden Horseshoe, including all Hamilton Street Railway (HSR)-GO Transit connections.
The new fare agreement also applies to Barrie Transit, Bradford West Gwillimbury Transit, Brampton Transit, Burlington Transit, Durham Region Transit, Grand River Transit, Milton Transit, MiWay Mississauga Transit, Oakville Transit, and York Region Transit.
That means that if someone takes the HSR – or other eligible local transit – and then immediately takes GO Transit, their PRESTO card will refund the local transit charge. The same would apply for that person’s return trip: if someone takes GO Transit and then transfers to local transit, they will not be charged the local transit fare.
PRESTO fares for youth and post-secondary students will also be decreased, saving transit riders even more money. The student discount currently sits at approximately 22.5 per cent off of regular adult fares. The new rate will give students 40 per cent off. This change applies for everyone between the age of 13-19 and those of any age enrolled full-time in post-secondary education and have confirmed their education status with PRESTO. Kids under 12 continue to be able to ride GO Transit for free.
Associate Minister of Transportation Stan Cho said that the new fare structure, coupled with the government’s other recent transportation-based announcements, have affordability and cost of living concerns top of mind.
“As we cut costs for drivers, including by eliminating licence sticker renewal fees and removing tolls on Highways 412 and 418, we’re also slashing fares to keep more money in the pockets of families and young people when they need it most and making it easier to get from point A to B,” said Cho.
The fare changes have the potential to save GO Transit users hundreds of dollars a year.
“With students learning in-person, our government is making transit more affordable and accessible for them,” said Minister of Education Stephen Lecce. “These fare discounts will save working families money.”
Hamiltonian Nevada Graci recently graduated from Sheridan College in Oakville and relied heavily on GO Transit, Oakville Transit, and the HSR to get to and from class. She told the Hamilton Independent that she is happy with the incoming fare changes.
“Saving money in any way possible for the future is a huge win for students,” said Graci.
But the Ontario NDP Transit critic Tom Rakocevic was quick to release a statement claiming that the Ford government has “chosen to exclude Toronto” from the new fare agreement.
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is noticeably missing from the list of transit systems that are part of the fare integration.
Under the Wynne Liberals, the TTC and Metrolinx had an agreement that offered transit riders a $1.50 discount on TTC fares when transferring to and from GO Transit, but the program was ended by the Ford government in March 2020.
Minister Cho said the TTC is not a part of the agreement simply because discussions with the commission are ongoing.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
