[Dan416]

I find the Metrocard easier to use than Presto...although that's more because I use Presto for GO trips (which means I have to keep it out the entire trip otherwise I'll forget to tap-off) and I used the Metrocard exclusively on the subway).

 

[Long Island Mike]

Smart Cards like Presto: Getting used to "Tap In,Tap Out"...

I find the Metrocard easier to use than Presto...although that's more because I use Presto for GO trips (which means I have to keep it out the entire trip otherwise I'll forget to tap-off) and I used the Metrocard exclusively on the subway).

CC: Your post makes me think of an interesting observation that I have concerning "Smart Card" technology like the Presto card:

In Philadelphia the PATCO High Speed Line to Lindenwold,NJ installed a smart card system that they named the Freedom system
to replace their late 60s designed magnetic ticket system that they named their Legacy system...

You mention about forgetting to "tap off" on exiting...Systems that are proposing fare collection using these cards like Philadelphia's
SEPTA Regional Rail system will have to get riders to remember and get used to using their cards on both ends of their trips...

PATCO's advantage is that their Legacy tickets were used to both enter and exit stations and it was somewhat easy to implement
the new system since PATCO riders were used to using their tickets on both ends of their rides...

Links: www.ridepatco.org and www.septa.org and look under NPT "New Payment Technology"

LI MIKE

 

[muller877]

Fare subsidy revisited

Should Toronto/Ontario change their fare subsidy to match one of the key public policies...to reduce the total km's driven on the road by cars? (either to reduce pollution or to reduce the amount of new roads that need to be built)

I am making a big assumption that both Toronto and Ontario should be working together and have a common public policy.

Based on the below computations we are funding GO Transit far less than TTC per km (3.5x less). A draconian move would be to increase TTC fares to make funding equal (equivalent of a $0.82 increase in TTC fare per use or $30 per month for a Metropass). Or should we redivert some of TTC's funding to GO Transit?

This is probably the KEY reason why TTC fares and GO Transit fares are not integrated within the city itself. (Long Branch monthly pass TTC=$130, GO=$160)


TTC fares collected/day = 1.6 million http://www.ttc.ca/About_the_TTC/Operating_Statistics/2011.jsp
TTC average km = 7.5 km http://stevemunro.ca/?p=2192 (is there a resource with more accurate numbers?)
TTC subsidy = $500 million / 365 = $1.36 million / day
TTC subsidy / user / day = $0.85
TTC subsidy / user / day / km = $0.11

GO Transit daily ridership = 227,000 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GO_Transit
GO Transit average km = 33.5 km http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GO_Transit
GO Transit subsidy = $91 million / 365 = $249,000 / day http://www.metrolinx.com/en/docs/pdf/board_agenda/20110623/Business_Plan.pdf
GO subsidy / user / day = $1.10
GO subsidy / user / day / km = $0.03