News   GLOBAL  |  Apr 02, 2020
 10K     0 
News   GLOBAL  |  Apr 01, 2020
 42K     0 
News   GLOBAL  |  Apr 01, 2020
 6K     0 

I had an interesting trip the other day. Tapped on YRT (and paid $3.88). Then about 40 minutes later I tapped on at the subway station. And then an hour or so later onto a streetcar. All free of course (I'm loving this!).

And then, 121 minutes after my first YRT tap (84 minutes after my first TTC tap), I tapped on again. And got charged a TTC fare!

Wasn't there a discussion further up that you could tap on TTC free for 2 hours after your first TTC tap? I'm not sure if something changed, or I missed the point of the earlier discussion.

To add insult to injury, this was a single trip. Though I admit I made some poor choices, in trying to avoid a gap up near Steeles and big delays with the construction on Lawrence. Then later trying to save time but just missing a streetcar leading to a long gap. Normally this trip is about 65 to 80 minutes - and I managed to muddle it into a 125-minute epic (would have been about 90 minutes if I'd just stuck to my usual route that day).

To add insult to injury, I only tapped the final time, because my streetcar was short-turned 3 stops before the end of my trip!

1716601473214.png
 
Last edited:
I had an interesting trip the other day. Tapped on YRT (and paid $3.88). Then about 40 minutes later I tapped on at the subway station. And then an hour or so later onto a streetcar. All free of course (I'm loving this!).

And then, 121 minutes after my first YRT tap (84 minutes after my first TTC tap), I tapped on again. And got charged a TTC fare!

Wasn't there a discussion further up that you could tap on TTC free for 2 hours after your first TTC tap? I'm not sure if something changed, or I missed the point of the earlier discussion.

To add insult to injury, this was a single trip. Though I admit I made some poor choices, in trying to avoid a gap up near Steeles and big delays with the construction on Lawrence. Then later trying to save time but just missing a streetcar leading to a long gap. Normally this trip is about 65 to 80 minutes - and I managed to muddle it into a 125-minute epic (would have been about 90 minutes if I'd just stuck to my usual route that day).

To add insult to injury, I only tapped the final time, because my streetcar was short-turned 3 stops before the end of my trip!

View attachment 566545
I believe you only get a renew on the transfer (3 hours) if you tap on at GO.
 
I had an interesting trip the other day. Tapped on YRT (and paid $3.88). Then about 40 minutes later I tapped on at the subway station. And then an hour or so later onto a streetcar. All free of course (I'm loving this!).

And then, 121 minutes after my first YRT tap (84 minutes after my first TTC tap), I tapped on again. And got charged a TTC fare!

Wasn't there a discussion further up that you could tap on TTC free for 2 hours after your first TTC tap? I'm not sure if something changed, or I missed the point of the earlier discussion.

To add insult to injury, this was a single trip. Though I admit I made some poor choices, in trying to avoid a gap up near Steeles and big delays with the construction on Lawrence. Then later trying to save time but just missing a streetcar leading to a long gap. Normally this trip is about 65 to 80 minutes - and I managed to muddle it into a 125-minute epic (would have been about 90 minutes if I'd just stuck to my usual route that day).

To add insult to injury, I only tapped the final time, because my streetcar was short-turned 3 stops before the end of my trip!

View attachment 566545
I believe the 2 hour window applies for TTC when your first tap is on TTC. In this case, your first tap was on YRT.
 
I believe you only get a renew on the transfer (3 hours) if you tap on at GO.
I'm not seeing that either (at least going back to TTC).

Looking at this sequence, first tap on TTC (streetcar). Changed to subway 36 minutes later. Then a 13-minute long GO trip 15 minutes after that. A free 14-minute GO trip starting 2'55" after my first GO trip (and 3'46" after my first TTC tap). But a TTC subway trip 2 minutes later was charged. On the other hand, it was two distinct GO trips - so fair is fair (fare is fare :) )

1716672372936.png


One might wonder if it's because of the preceding TTC tap. But here's a similar sequence that starts on GO instead of TTC.
1716672588264.png
 
I'm not seeing that either (at least going back to TTC).

Looking at this sequence, first tap on TTC (streetcar). Changed to subway 36 minutes later. Then a 13-minute long GO trip 15 minutes after that. A free 14-minute GO trip starting 2'55" after my first GO trip (and 3'46" after my first TTC tap). But a TTC subway trip 2 minutes later was charged. On the other hand, it was two distinct GO trips - so fair is fair (fare is fare :) )

View attachment 566709

One might wonder if it's because of the preceding TTC tap. But here's a similar sequence that starts on GO instead of TTC.
View attachment 566710
The way I see it, from your first set of trips, the tap (on) at GO was at 6:54pm. The new transfer expiration time would therefore be 9:54pm. Your last leg of TTC just missed it by 9min. You almost made it. ;)

For your second set of trips, the transfer expiration time should be 9:36pm.
 
Last edited:
Not sure where to post this. But ever since the One Fare program started I’ve noticed that Milton trains are a lot more crowded from Union to Kipling. Masses of standees. And then they all get off at Kipling and there’s space to sit again. It would be interesting to see the statistics on how this has impacted GO ridership. I imagine a similar pattern could be happening at other subway stations colocated with GO stations.
 
Not sure where to post this. But ever since the One Fare program started I’ve noticed that Milton trains are a lot more crowded from Union to Kipling. Masses of standees. And then they all get off at Kipling and there’s space to sit again. It would be interesting to see the statistics on how this has impacted GO ridership. I imagine a similar pattern could be happening at other subway stations colocated with GO stations.
I saw a parade of people transferring from Bloor GO to Dundas West Station during the afternoon rush a few weeks ago. Makes sense to take GO for 40 cents more if your office is near Union.
 
I saw a parade of people transferring from Bloor GO to Dundas West Station during the afternoon rush a few weeks ago. Makes sense to take GO for 40 cents more if your office is near Union.
It would be interesting to see numbers on how integration has changed some of those trips. I'd think there'd be more people using the Milton line to Kipling station and changing to TTC - that's significantly faster than subway. On the other hand, it's a $4.76 GO fare rather than the $3.70 to Bloor, Kennedy, or Danforth.
 
From the York Region Transit 2024 System Performance Report,

In 2024, approximately 7.64 million cross-boundary trips were made between YRT and the TTC under the One Fare Program, representing 32.3% of YRT’s system ridership, and YRT received $15.87 million in reimbursements from the Province to offset the free transfers. Cross-boundary trips have increased 27.6% compared to the start of the program.

 
It would be interesting to see numbers on how integration has changed some of those trips. I'd think there'd be more people using the Milton line to Kipling station and changing to TTC - that's significantly faster than subway. On the other hand, it's a $4.76 GO fare rather than the $3.70 to Bloor, Kennedy, or Danforth.
The free transfer lasting three hours on GO, instead of two with TTC, might also help some people. Earlier this month when part of Line 2 was shut down, I instead took a GO train from Bloor to Union, $3.70. The early Saturday evening comedy show I was at ended at 9pm, and I got on the King St streetcar to get home in the last minute before the free 3-hour transfer expired, so the $3.70 total for the night was actually cheaper than if I would have taken the TTC both ways.
 
I think it's generally assumed to be the case and the two-year term is just a due dillegence requirement (it hardly ever gets mentioned in news reports).

I concur.

I also expect, at some point, you will see further lowering of GO fares in particular, and a move to harmonize non-GO and GO base fares, probably in line w/where TTC is now.

But cost-avoidance aside, I suspect there was a feeling to gauge the impact of this before going maximal, so as not to risk severe overcrowding.

I'm not sure we'll see meaningful improvements in early'26. It will depend both on what the province wants to spend, but also where a slew of projects are at.

The biggest is LSE (return of express service and weekday 15m off-peak), and also work necessary to ramp up GO Expansion, particularly 2-way, all-day, 30M or better on the inner portions of K-W, Barrie and Stouffville.

I would imagine everyone would particularly like to see how the giant Crosstown shift works out as well.
 
Last edited:

Back
Top