Riding the bus about to get less expensive in Mississauga and Brampton
Published February 5, 2024 at 10:45 am
Riding the buses within Mississauga and Brampton and outside Peel’s borders is about to get a bit more affordable with a new public transit plan unveiled today.
Introduced Monday by the Ontario government, the One Fare plan will allow transit users to pay only once as they can transfer for free between MiWay, Brampton Transit, GO Transit and TTC buses among others as of Feb. 26.
Transit systems in York and Durham regions are also part of the free-transfer initiative.
The provincial government estimates the plan will save riders an average of $1,600 annually.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown described the initiative as a “significant boost” for the community.
“With Brampton Transit leading the country in ridership growth – a 160 per cent increase in the decade before the pandemic and a remarkable 30 per cent rise over pre-pandemic levels – this program will further enhance public transit’s accessibility and affordability in Brampton, while providing substantial savings for commuters,” Brown said in a news release from the province.
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Ontario Premier Doug Ford said his government is “on a mission to keep costs down” for people across the province.
“One Fare will eliminate double fares and put $1,600 back into the pockets of transit riders. Alongside the hundreds of dollars we’re saving for drivers by cutting the gas tax, scrapping road tolls and eliminating the licence plate sticker fee, we’re providing commuters with real, tangible relief,” he said.
Fully funded by the Ontario government, One Fare will lead to some eight million new rides every year and will make cross-boundary travel more affordable and convenient for students, seniors and other commuters across Mississauga, Brampton and the entire GTA, the province said.
“At a time when many families feel like they’re struggling to get ahead, our government is making public transit simpler, more convenient and more affordable,” said Vijay Thanigasalam, Ontario’s associate minister of transportation.
The province adds that One Fare builds on improvements the government made in 2022 to eliminate fares between GO Transit and several transit agencies in the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
The government says it will continue to work with municipal partners to “identify opportunities to make transit more seamless for riders by harmonizing discounted fares and other measures.”