Premier Doug Ford Directs $280 Million for Permanent GTA Two-Hour Transit Fare Integration

TORONTO — Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria announced on Monday the permanent funding and expansion of the "One Fare" regional transit integration program, committing $280 million annually from the provincial treasury to eliminate double fares for commuters transferring between the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and regional transit agencies.

The program, managed through Metrolinx, fully subsidizes connecting municipal transit fares when riders transfer between the TTC, GO Transit, Brampton Transit, Durham Region Transit, MiWay (Mississauga), and York Region Transit (YRT) within a two-hour travel window using PRESTO or credit/debit contactless tap.

Saving Daily Commuters Up to $1,600 Annually Prior to the One Fare integration, cross-boundary transit riders in the Greater Toronto Area were forced to pay two separate fares—one to their local suburban transit provider and another upon entering the TTC subway system—adding over $130 in monthly transit costs for working commuters.

"Our government is putting more money back into the pockets of hardworking commuters," Premier Doug Ford said during an announcement at Union Station in Toronto. "For too long, riders were penalized with double fares simply for crossing a municipal boundary line between Mississauga or York Region and Toronto. By making One Fare permanent with $280 million in provincial funding, we are saving daily transit riders up to $1,600 a year while driving millions of new riders onto our world-class transit system."

Transit Ridership Growth and System Seamlessness Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria reported that since its pilot launch, the One Fare initiative has generated over 25 million integrated transit trips and increased inter-agency transfers by 18 percent.

"Whether you are tapping your PRESTO card, your debit card, or your smartphone, transit in the Greater Golden Horseshoe is now fully integrated, seamless, and affordable," Sarkaria stated.

Transit rider advocacy organizations, municipal mayors, and business boards of trade commended the permanent provincial funding, highlighting that fare integration is essential to maximizing returns on Ontario's multi-billion-dollar subway and regional rail expansions.