by Kathryn Hunt
Snags in the initial testing of OC Transpo’s new payment method, the PRESTO card, have resulted in the planned rollout being delayed by a month.
The cards are part of an Ontario-wide initiative, administered by a provincial agency called Metrolinx, and tests on the system were carried out in early June. Persistent problems with the card readers prompted the last-minute decision not to start releasing cards until the problems have been fixed.
The card contains an electronic chip, and can work either as a monthly pass or as a reloadable “cash card” which can be used in lieu of money or paper tickets. The card is tapped on an electronic reader at the door of the bus upon boarding.
In trials, however, the readers have sometimes not been registering on the first tap, leading people to wonder if they’ve been double-charged, and other service issues have also prompted the delay of the launch. Originally scheduled to go live on July 1, the PRESTO system will now be launched in early August.
Originally, OC Transpo planned to distribute 200,000 free PRESTO cards starting in June. Normally, the cards will cost $6.00 to purchase. After purchase, the cards can be “loaded” with cash online, over the phone or in person at OC Transpo outlets. They can also be set up for auto-renewal from a credit card or bank account.
Tickets and paper passes will still be sold after the August PRESTO launch, although efforts will be made to phase them out.
There are a number of changes to note about the new cards: articulated and double-decker buses will now have a card reader at every door, and riders must tap their card even when boarding at the rear doors. Also, paper transfers will no longer be issued: the card reader will display how many minutes are left on the card when you tap it. Fare inspectors will be able to scan your card and determine whether your minutes have expired. If you are using the PRESTO card as a monthly pass, however, free transfers are included.
The card is transferable, unlike the existing paper pass, which comes with photo ID. This means a cardholder can lend his or her card to someone else, which is not possible with the current monthly passes.
According to the OC Transpo website, the fares which had been scheduled to change with the implementation of the PRESTO pass are still scheduled to change on July 1, though that may be amended to match the new launch date.