As the debate over a fare payment system for the Toronto Transit Commission (ON) continues, the Toronto Star compared the options. While other transit systems in the Greater Toronto Area are adopting the contactless PRESTO Card, TTC is pursuing an open fare payment system despite opposition from the provincial government and business leaders.
At issue are the cost and readiness of the competing systems. PRESTO director of program services told The Star, “Nobody can really sit down and say what an open payment system is really going to cost me. You can sit down and say what Presto will cost,” he said. “Presto is ready. No open payment system is on the market today.” Paul Korczak, a consultant to TTC, contends that an open payment system will save money. “If you’re building a custom-built system it becomes very expensive,” he said. “If you can shed some of those costs, like the card production cost, the distribution cost, you can simplify the technology, you can share in the knowledge and development of new technologies, your costs are going to be reduced.” Link to full story in Toronto Star.
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