Meet Presto, Greater Toronto’s long-awaited integrated fare card system. Ontario’s initiative to improve the way GTA-ers pay fares will finally put us in line with other transit authorities in North America and around the world.

Presto will be rolled out next month on a trial basis on select routes in Mississuaga which make connections to GO Transit stations at Meadowvale and Cooksville, as well as at Union Station.

Presto is expected to be fully rolled out in Brampton, Burlington, Durham Region, Hamilton, Mississauga, Oakville, York Region and GO transit systems by 2010. One key transit system is oddly missing is the TTC. Because of TTC’s large fleet of 1,500 buses and 250 some streetcars, there has not been a deal reached as to who will pay for the implemetentaion of card readers across the TTC system.

During full implementation, TTC will only accept the Presto card at the five key subway stations with interregional connections at Don Mills, Downsview, Finch, Islington, and Union stations.

What do you guys think of the name Presto? If you have a music background, you’d know that Presto means quick or fast in Italian. I suppose we use the term colloqually as well. I suppose the name is acceptable, but it’s missing a bit of local flavour and pizzaz. Perhaps we can follow the footsteps of LuminaTO, and spell it PresTO. At least in that case, there’s a reference to our region.

Presto Card official website - [prestocard.ca]
Smart card - [wikipedia.org]
Southern Ont. to see multi-system transit fare card
Fare enough: Single card aims to ease ticket trouble - [thestar.com]