TTC smartcard system

The TTC's fare system is about to receive a major upgrade. TTC officials may allow commuters to use their debit or credit cards to pay for fares by tapping them on electronic readers, which would be added to their bills or withdrawals. The new fare system would be similar to card payment systems operating in coffee shops and gas stations. In order to familiarize commuters with the new system, TTC chair Adam Giambrone is hosting an open house in Committee Room 1 at City Hall, at 6:30 pm on Thursday, April 15, with Paul Korczak, who was involved in New York City's pilot transit fare project. A TTC release read:

Korczak is the former chair of the Transportation Council of the Smart Card Alliance, a current member of the Near Field Communications Academy, and is actively involved in peer reviews and public forums on transit fare payments around the world.

If developed by the TTC, it could benefit the Presto card the province is developing for all transit systems in the GTA. Not everyone has a credit card and for kids who use public transit to get to school, parents will likely appreciate a pre-paid card as opposed to sharing a credit card.