In an effort to validate Guelph Transit rides connecting between PRESTO and OnYourWay, a co-fare system will launch on Tuesday.
Previously riders connecting from GO transit using PRESTO to board Guelph Transit would flash their PRESTO cards to ride the bus for free. Now riders are being asked to link their OnYourWay and PRESTO accounts so when they tap their OnYourWay card after stepping off GO transit, they will be discounted the full cost of the fare.
A ride on Guelph Transit is $2.80 for an adult.
“It’s a way for us to validate that the people are taking the trips on the train,” said Courtney McDonald, manager of transit business services for Guelph Transit.
Riders will get a free ride to and from Guelph Central Station if they are connecting between GO transit, which is run by Metrolinx, and Guelph Transit. All other rides in Guelph riders will have to pay for.
Money has to be loaded onto both Presto cards and OnYourWay cards to use them.
If a rider coming from Toronto on the GO train taps their PRESTO card before boarding and after boarding and they don’t plan on taking Guelph Transit when they arrive, they don’t need to tap their OnYourWay card at Guelph Central Station.
Guelph Transit staff is educating riders while at Guelph Central Station at peak travel time between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Staff are handing out free OnYourWay cards, “to make the transition easy for them and if some people aren’t able to get to it we will mail them a card as well if they don’t live in Guelph,” said McDonald.
The cards cost $5 from participating retailers.
There will be some leeway after Aug. 8 when the co-fare system launches if people don’t have an OnYourWay card yet. “We’ll continue our education campaign. We have employees out riding the buses to just educating them,” said McDonald.
“Guelph Transit has worked closely with Metrolinx to try and make this transition as seamless as possible,” she said.
