Ontario budget proposes reduced GO fares for short trips and the province taking over the subway
The 2018 spending plan released Wednesday by Premier Kathleen Wynne’s government includes a pledge to reduce the fares for all GO Transit trips that are either less than 10 kilometres or are taken within the city of Toronto to $3 when using a Presto fare card.
Depending on the length of the trip, GO journeys within Toronto can currently cost Presto users more than $6.
The budget also proposes to work with transit agencies in municipalities adjacent to Toronto to provide discounts of $1.50 for Presto users who switch between the TTC and York Region Transit, Brampton Transit, Durham Region Transit, and Mississauga’s MiWay.
The government estimates there are 63,000 such trips taken every day.
Both of the fare measures would go into effect in early 2019. According to a government spokesperson the lower GO fares would cost the province an estimated $90 million over three years, while discounts between the TTC and the 905 agencies would cost an estimated $70 million over the same period.
