Metrolinx: Presto Fare Card

[Jonny5]

Karen Stinz is already walking back the committment to PRESTO.

“I recognize the importance of the regional component of Presto and I think it’s a significant benefit to transit,†Stintz said.
“It’s also the commission’s decision and the commission hasn’t rendered its decision,†she said.

 

[Voltz]

Karen Stinz is already walking back the committment to PRESTO.

“I recognize the importance of the regional component of Presto and I think it’s a significant benefit to transit,” Stintz said.
“It’s also the commission’s decision and the commission hasn’t rendered its decision,” she said.

Only meaning Ford's trained seals have not been told by their dear leader to vote yes on it yet.

 

[Jonny5]

Only meaning Ford's trained seals have not been told by their dear leader to vote yes on it yet.

Yeah, but then there's this:

“The cost to the TTC cannot be $200 million, period. Because we don’t have it and it’s not on the table."

The cost projections are now much higher than $200M.

 

[valvenis]

According to the article rolling out Presto to the regional transit systems will cost ~$170 million. Isn't the TTC larger than all of them combined?

If the province wants to foot the bill - they can go right ahead. Otherwise - we should stick to the original plan. An open payment system setup & run by an organization with experience doing it makes a lot more sense.

 

[drum118]

Yeah, but then there's this:

“The cost to the TTC cannot be $200 million, period. Because we don’t have it and it’s not on the table."

The cost projections are now much higher than $200M.

They do have or the City has the $160 million that was back ended in the Billion Dollar funding program some years ago for a smart card system. That money came from both levels of the government.

The way TTC does things, it going to cost more than it should, as they like inventing the wheel over and over when it could be bought off the shelf at modify to meet their needs in the first place..

 

[Electrify]

One of the concessions for the new plan was to go full Presto. If Toronto tries to back out of that as well, I wonder if the province will simply remove all of the $8 billion designated until the city seems more stable politically or even give it to Peel and York for their transit projects.

 

[Jonny5]

One of the concessions for the new plan was to go full Presto. If Toronto tries to back out of that as well, I wonder if the province will simply remove all of the $8 billion designated until the city seems more stable politically or even give it to Peel and York for their transit projects.

Either way, we have to have something in place for when the new streetcars hit the streets. They have to be all POP.

 

[nfitz]

One of the concessions for the new plan was to go full Presto.

No it wasn't. Read the (non-binding) agreement carefully. The commitment was to continue discussing how to implement it. Clearly the TTC's position on how to implement it, is for Ontario to pay for it.

 

[k10ery]

Yeah, but then there's this:

“The cost to the TTC cannot be $200 million, period. Because we don’t have it and it’s not on the table."

The cost projections are now much higher than $200M.

Done right, automated fare collection could save, what, $50-100 million in annual operating costs? Spending $200 million to do that is a fantastic investment compared to other TTC projects.

Of course, not as fantastic an investment as whining and foot-dragging until somebody else pays for it.

 

[nfitz]

Done right ... what is the charge Metrolinx will make to TTC to process each transaction? If the charge for TTC for each transaction is only 5¢ per boarding, and there are 500-million trips per year, and 2 boardings per trip, then the cost for TTC is $50-million a year ... and that's the savings out the window right there.

Though the big issue is even if it saves operating costs, there is still the capital costs. Remember, TTC is saying $200 million would be too much. Presto themselves have estimated the cost for TTC to implement would be $320-million; and TTC has estimated well over $400 million. Even if there is a small annual savings in costs, someone has to find close to a half-billion dollars for implementation.

 

[k10ery]

To be honest I just assumed Presto/Ontario would cover Presto operating costs, didn't know they charge. That would change things.

Still how could a move to only automated collection *not* save a ton of money?

 

[doady]

The Ontario government should withdraw the $150 million or so it gives to the TTC each year until the TTC implements Presto.

 

[nfitz]

To be honest I just assumed Presto/Ontario would cover Presto operating costs, didn't know they charge. That would change things.

I assume there has to be some kind of payment. What's the deal for, say, HSR?

 

[yrt+viva=1system]

YRT's site now has a information page for Presto.

 

[wopchop]

I'm wouldn't be surprised to hear that the Union is playing a part in opposing Presto. Automated fare collection is a direct threat to the jobs of toll booth collectors.