Good news for commuters in the Greater Toronto Area: The Ontario government is extending the One Fare program for an additional two years to continue keeping transit costs down for riders in the GTA and Hamilton Area.
The program is saving transit users in the GTHA up to $1,600 per year. Since launching in 2024, One Fare has saved Ontarians nearly $200 million and enabled nearly 62 million free transfers across participating transit agencies, according to the province.
“We’re extending the elimination of double fares through One Fare to make transit more affordable and convenient, saving commuters up to $1,600 each year,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation.
The One Fare program lets transit riders pay only once when transferring between the Toronto Transit Commission and GO Transit, Brampton Transit, Durham Region Transit, MiWay, Peel TransHelp and York Region Transit.
How the program works
Transit riders can use a physical or digital PRESTO card, debit card or credit card to access One Fare by tapping on and off with the same card for the full trip. Transfers are valid for two hours when a trip starts on local transit and for three hours when a trip starts on GO Transit.
The province said 37 per cent of riders report using transit more since the program’s launch.
“Transit is part of everyday life for so many in our communities. It’s how people get to work, school, appointments and opportunities,” said Michael Lindsay, president and CEO of Metrolinx. “With One Fare, we’ve made that journey simpler and more affordable.”
Part of broader transit expansion
The Ontario government is investing $70 billion in transit expansion in the GTHA, including the Ontario Line, the Scarborough Subway Extension, the Finch West LRT, the Yonge North Subway Extension, the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension, the Hazel McCallion Line and the Hamilton LRT.
Through the GO Expansion program, the province is also delivering two-way, all-day service on GO Transit’s busiest rail routes.
