PRESTO introduces E-Tickets, Bytemark's mobile ticketing option, on local transit systems

PRESTO, the electronic fare payment system for the Greater Toronto Area, has launched PRESTO E-Tickets, a new account-based ticketing app provided by Bytemark, a global innovator in Mobility as a Service (MaaS). 

Launching first on two local transit systems, Durham Region Transit (DRT) and Hamilton Street Railway (HSR), the PRESTO E-Tickets app provides transit customers with a new fare payment option. PRESTO E-Tickets is built on the Bytemark Passage account-based fare payment solution and will offer its Navigate capabilities powered by HaCon.

PRESTO E-Tickets, available for both iOS and Android, currently allows customers on DRT and HSR transit systems to use their smartphones to make in-app cashless and contactless fare purchases, which can then be visually verified at a distance by drivers and fare inspectors. Future versions of PRESTO E-Tickets will be integrated with PRESTO’s extensive electronic fare collection system to allow for faster automatic validation. The app, which runs on the Bytemark Bridge, a Plan, Book & Pay™ platform, will continue to evolve with new features for customers, as well as expansion to include other local transit providers.

“The team at Bytemark is thrilled to assist both the PRESTO team and PRESTO customers in making travel contactless, safer, and more convenient for those returning to public transit,” said Eric Reese, Chief Executive Officer at Bytemark. “Through the Passage product, transit riders throughout the Greater Toronto area will enjoy easier access to payment and reduce person-to-person contact. We look forward to the opportunity to implement the platform in quick order for other PRESTO-enabled transit agencies as well.”

“We know our customers want even more convenient and touchless payment options, especially during a time when safety is so top of mind,” said Annalise Czerny, Chief of PRESTO. “We worked quickly to launch PRESTO E-Tickets, starting first on DRT and HSR, so that customers can safely and easily purchase and pay their fare all from their smartphone.” 

The app, available in English and French, lets riders remain truly contactless and cashless throughout their travel experience. Easy to view from a distance, the dynamic tickets with built-in fraud protection allow transit operators to maintain social distancing while ensuring that fares are paid. 

“HSR is excited to offer PRESTO E-Tickets to our customers. PRESTO E-Tickets are a convenient, secure and contactless alternative to pay fares, as the HSR ends the sale of paper tickets this fall,” said Nancy Purser, Manager of Transit Support Services at the City of Hamilton. 

“This new and innovative solution is a great option for DRT customers wanting the convenience and safety of contactless fare payment. We’re eager to see PRESTO E-Tickets used across our entire network of scheduled, specialized and On Demand services,” said Bill Holmes, General Manager Durham Region Transit.

PRESTO serves 11 transit systems across the Greater Toronto Area, with over 4 million customers. HSR provides in excess of 21 million rides annually. DRT has more than 240 vehicles, with transit service available throughout the entire region of Durham. 

Founded in 2011, Bytemark provides comprehensive Mobility as a Service (MaaS) and Payments as a Service (PaaS) solutions to cities and agencies around the globe. Bytemark helps partners deliver a seamless and enjoyable travel experience for their riders. The company’s core offerings include tools for travel planning, parking management, fare payments, and more. Bytemark holds patents for distributing electronic tickets with visual display as well as electronic ticket validation using proximity detection. Learn more at Bytemark.co.

A division of Metrolinx, Ontario’s regional transportation agency, PRESTO is an electronic payment system that eliminates the need for tickets, tokens, passes, and cash. PRESTO seamlessly connects 11 local transit systems in the Greater Toronto Area, making paying for trips simple, convenient, and secure. Through modernization plans, PRESTO is delivering even more modern and convenient payment options to customers, including PRESTO E-Tickets, and is soon piloting payment by credit, debit, and mobile wallets. 

DRT is one of Ontario's largest regional transit systems, serving eight unique area municipalities: Ajax, Brock, Clarington, Oshawa, Pickering, Scugog, Uxbridge, and Whitby. With over 240 vehicles, running more than 533,000 annual service hours and travelling over 13.5 million kilometres last year, DRT safely moved over 11 million customers across the region in 2019.

Since 1874, the HSR has helped our customers travel across the city of Hamilton. From streetcars to buses, through advances in technology and beyond, we’ve driven our customers throughout Hamilton’s history. Every year, we provide over 21 million rides and travel hundreds of thousands of kilometres. Today, we’re proud to be one of the greenest transit agencies in Canada. Our goal is to make transit your first choice.