PRESTO is rolling out a new fare payment solution at several 905 transit agencies designed for their local specialized transit and other on-demand microtransit services.

The payment option successfully launched in Hamilton on March 15 with the help of the Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) and their contracted service provider, DARTS.

Durham and Oakville are set to introduce it later this year.

With this change, HSR customers using specialized transit services now have the option to pay for their ride with their PRESTO card instead of using cash. This provides a more seamless experience and means customers now pay the lowest fare available.

Customers can now simply tap on with their PRESTO card when they enter the vehicle, much like the experience of boarding a bus. There’s also an audio mode feature, using the tablet’s speaker, that enables customers with visual disabilities to listen to their PRESTO transaction out loud.

This summer, the feature will also be introduced on Durham Region Transit’s On Demand service, meaning customers will soon be able to tap on with their PRESTO card when boarding the service instead of having their card visually validated.

Oakville Transit specialized transit vehicles will also be implementing the payment solution in the summer, upgrading the existing PRESTO payment devices already in use.

The new solution was first deployed on TTC’s Wheel-Trans contracted sedan taxis last year.

Speaking of PRESTO, you may have missed this recent story on contactless improvements for UP Express customers.