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Hamilton, Burlington city buses accepting credit cards as payment, part of PRESTO expansion

The Ontario government has expanded the PRESTO credit payment system to Durham, York, Burlington and Hamilton, allowing riders to pay adult fares using credit cards.

Transit riders can now pay the adult fare using a credit card or mobile phone wallet

Michael To · CBC News ·
A sign of Frank A. Cooke Transit Terminal with an HSR bus behind it.
Residents in Hamilton and Burlington will now be able to use their credit cards to pay adult cash fares for local public transportation, the Ontario government announced Monday. (Michael To/CBC)

People can now use a credit card to pay their fare when riding a Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) or Burlington Transit bus. 

According to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, riders in some parts of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) can now pay the adult fare using credit cards or cards saved on a mobile wallet or smartwatch when boarding — for the HSR that's $3.25, for Burlington Transit, that's $3.50.

Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath said expanding payment options will help grow ridership. 

Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said "transit users have been asking for simple ways to pay.

"Providing more payment options supports both existing and potential new transit riders, including those who are first-time transit users who may not carry cash," she said.

Ontario announced the expansion of the PRESTO contactless service Monday. It will also be in effect for Durham Region Transit and York Regional Transit. The credit payment function is already operational on Mississauga's MiWay, Oakville Transit, Brampton Transit and the Union Pearson Express, though restricted to only being able to pay the adult cash fare.

The province is working to expand the system to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), it said, and "to introduce debit tapping payment capability to all transit agencies in the GTHA."

According to the PRESTO website, payments using Visa, Mastercard or American Express are being accepted. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael To

Reporter

Michael To is a reporter with CBC Hamilton. Passionate about food, entertainment, and local culture, while reporting on all topics and beats. Trained and educated actor, versed in multimedia. Contact he/him at: michael.to@cbc.ca.

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