Riding the bus in Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton and Halton just got more affordable

Public transit users in Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton and Halton will pay less to ride the buses under a new agreement between GO Transit and municipal bus services announced today (March 1) in Mississauga.

Starting March 14, local transit–including MiWay, Brampton Transit, Oakville Transit and others across the GTA–will be free for riders connecting to and from GO Transit under the new co-fare agreement.

In Mississauga, for example, an adult who commutes back and forth using MiWay and GO Transit three days a week could save $250 a year.

Additionally, PRESTO card discounts for youth and post-secondary students will increase to 40 per cent off the full adult fare, nearly double the current discount, also starting March 14.

That discount applies to GO Transit and UP Express (Union Station to Pearson Airport) riders ages 13 to 19 or anyone enrolled in full-time post-secondary education.

Children under 12 continue to ride GO Transit free of charge.

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Stan Cho, Ontario’s associate transportation minister, said at a press conference in the Streetsville area of Mississauga that running an effective public transit system is about more than just laying down tracks.

“Affordability and cost of living concerns are very much on the minds of families throughout Ontario, and that is why our government is taking action to make riding transit cheaper,” said Cho, who was joined by Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie and others for the announcement. “As we cut costs for drivers, including by eliminating licence sticker renewal fees and removing tolls on Hwys. 412 and 418, we’re also slashing fares to keep more money in the pockets of families and young people when they need it most and making it easier to get from point A to B.”

Crombie described the announcement, which also included details of a pilot project for low-income transit riders, as significant.

“We know that coming out of this pandemic, all governments need to work together” to make public transit more affordable and accessible for people to get to work or school or to get around in their daily lives, said Crombie.

The mayor added that the new agreement is a “huge step forward” towards putting “more money back in people’s pockets.”

Crombie noted the transit pact will also help Mississauga and other municipalities in their economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mississauga’s MiWay transit provider and others across the GTA suffered huge financial losses due to dramatic reductions in ridership since March 2020.

“So, any efforts that encourage more people to get on public transit will undoubtedly help us in our recovery,” said Crombie.

GO Transit is also introducing an Affordability Pilot for low-income riders, starting with Mississauga and Brampton residents who are enrolled in Peel’s Affordable Transit Program.

Starting March 14, riders with an Affordable Transit Program fare type will be reimbursed for 50 per cent of the PRESTO adult fare when travelling on GO Transit using a PRESTO card.

The pilot will be rolled out to other transit systems in a phased approach.

The GO Transit co-fare discounts apply to the following agencies: Durham Region Transit, Milton Transit, Grand River Transit, Guelph Transit, Oakville Transit, MiWay, Brampton Transit, Hamilton Street Railway, Burlington Transit, Bradford West Gwillimbury Transit, York Region Transit and Barrie Transit.