One Million Customers Tap On With PRESTO

TORONTO, March 31, 2014 /CNW/ - PRESTO has reached a major milestone with one million transit riders now using the electronic fare card across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and Ottawa.

The way people use transit across the region continues to be transformed by the growing number of PRESTO users. A record 500,000 transit users joined PRESTO in the past 12 months.

To celebrate the arrival of its one millionth customer, PRESTO held a customer appreciation contest that ran from February 10 to March 10, with 22 winning card holders receiving PRESTO card credits of up to $500.

More than 27,000 customers entered the PRESTO "One Millionth Customer" contest. GO Transit riders Carol Bullock and Erica Kwan were each awarded grand prizes of a $500 credit on their PRESTO card. A further 20 PRESTO customers from across the GTHA and Ottawa were each awarded runner-up prizes of $250 credit.

Executive Vice-President of PRESTO, Robert Hollis, said PRESTO and local transit agencies are working together to build a more convenient and integrated transportation system.

"Every day we see more and more transit riders using PRESTO to travel seamlessly across multiple transit agencies," Hollis said. "The introduction of one PRESTO card for use across the entire GTHA is one of the biggest advancements in the region's transportation system. In fall of this year, PRESTO will become available to even more transit users as we continue the rollout of PRESTO to the TTC."

"PRESTO makes the travel and commuting experience as easy as possible, and one million customers is proof that we're well on our way to a more integrated region," said Bruce McCuaig, President and CEO of Metrolinx.

The electronic fare system is now fully deployed across GO Transit Hamilton Street Railway, Burlington Transit, Brampton Transit, Oakville Transit, Miway, York Region Transit, Durham Region Transit and OC Transpo.

PRESTO Facts

• More than one million transit riders use PRESTO cards
  
• An average of 50,000 new PRESTO customers joined each month in 2013
  
• To date, there have been more than 188 million PRESTO taps
  
• PRESTO can be used on nine transit agencies across the GTHA and in Ottawa

The One Millionth Customer contest winners are:

Grand prize - $500 PRESTO card credit
Carol Bullock - GO Transit
Erica Kwan - GO Transit

Runner-up prize - $250 PRESTO card credit

Sarah Gallagher - Brampton Transit
Amit Bector - Brampton Transit
Chelsea Witten - Burlington Transit
Nessa - Burlington Transit
Adam De Vos - Durham Region Transit
Maria Cordeiro - Durham Region Transit
Igor Shvets - Hamilton Street Railway
Vishal Patel - Hamilton Street Railway
Rachin Sobti - GO Transit
Sam Solomon - GO Transit
Bruno Salumbo - MiWay
Jim Mitchell - MiWay
Sandy Sparks - Oakville Transit
Margaret Fay - Oakville Transit
Devon Van Buskirk - Toronto Transit Commission
Carol Rydzkowski - Toronto Transit Commission
Paul Go - York Region Transit
Na Ra Shin - York Region Transit
Brent Delano - OC Transpo

Metrolinx is working to provide residents and businesses in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area with a transportation system that is modern, efficient and integrated. Find out more about The Big Move, Metrolinx's Regional Transportation Plan for the GTHA. Find out more about GO Transit, PRESTO, and Union Pearson Express, divisions of Metrolinx.

SOURCE: Metrolinx

Media enquiries

Anne Marie Aikins - [phone]
Vanessa Thomas - [phone]