Fares and Fare Collection

Opening concern

- the technology for fares has been decided on before the fare system has been discussed/deliberated on by citizens and end-users

-    Ministry of Transport decided on Presto card system, Metrolinx has inherited this

-    The Presto card is based on RFID technology

-    Questions:

o    How did the bid process work for the fare system?

o    Will the technology drive how our fare system is designed?  What is the fare system we want?

Concerns with current TTC and or regional fare system

-    Monthly/weekly passes are set to fixed calendars

-    Prices are almost fixed (i.e. only minimal discounts for families on weekend)

-    Not seamless, lack of integration across systems

-    You can’t run an errand (i.e. there and back journey)

-    Lack of co-operation between levels of government: city, provincial, federal (power struggles)

-    Ownership and governance: we pay taxes and use transit systems in different areas   

Areas to build in:

-    Creativity (the flexibility of the fare system is important)

-    Sponsorships/partnerships

-    Integration with banking systems for payment; also not tied to banking systems to allow for maximum accessibility

-    Loyalty program

-    Coordination TTC (i.e. regional authorities bought into fare integration before TTC)

Where do we want to go?

-    Presto can accommodate fare based, zone based

-    What kind of flexibility can be built into the system to increase access for the broadest base of citizens (and be financially efficient for transit)

o    Zones (rings)

o    Time (literally how long you are on the system)

o    Flat fares

o    Fare by distance

-    The issue of more subsidies (through taxation) may be required to make improvements

Zones discussion

-    There are a lot of issues with deciding where the “rings” are or “borders” if we make zones

-    Where do we start the ring? Union? Bloor and Yonge?

-    One idea to form the rings: 416 vs. 905

-    “Cheap” or free downtown systems (Salt Lake City is one model)   

What should inform the fare system

-    What is equitable? i.e. who should pay more? Who can afford to pay more?

-    ‘green factor’

-    What is economically sustainable?

-    How convenient is the system? Many people will pay more not to line-up

-    What are people willing to pay for (i.e. premium express fare systems?)