The City with 4 Transit Systems

[@kelv3157]

Hopefully this newly amalgamated Niagara regional transit agency would also adopt the presto fare system for integration with GO transit, if the province see it feasible

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

It could, but it's unlikely. Most other agencies outside of Metrolinx's authority have been selecting other cards since they have lower service fees. For example GRT (Waterloo) adopted a separate card system recently. The only reason the TTC uses Presto is that the Province forced them to.

[@amosnider]

The province should have forced all transit service in Ontario to adopt Presto, if the transit agency is to take transit subsidy from the province, strings should be attached that all Ontarians should be able to easily transfer and use the transit system. They can have their own payment system, but must accept Presto. Car drivers are not required to register their vehicles or have their licences registered for each municipality when they cross boundaries; but transit users are forced to have multiple payment formats and expensive fare penalty when crossing arbitrary boundaries.

[@exiledknight3961]

Not ever going to happen. Presto, is an operating division of Metrolinx, a private company, while NRT is government funded. Its like asking to use a walmart gift card at costco.

[@kelv3157]

@@exiledknight3961 Metrolinx is a crown agency of the province. Therefore it is a public/governmental entity. Theoretically the province can force them to use it, just like what they did with Ottawa. Metrolinx owns presto, and the Government of Ontario owns Metrolinx.

[@exiledknight3961]

@@kelv3157 thats because Ottawa received funding from the province, Niagara on the other hand does not, hence they cannot enforce it.

[@NFSHeld]

As a non-Niagarafalls citizen, "NPC People Mover" sounds like concept for a Minecraft Redstone contraption.

[@hollylockhart9423]

😂 thank you for making this video to get the word out. If you are interested here is an update. Now in 2024, one year into the niagara regional transit (NRT) amalgamation which consolidated the local and regional service into one provider but left the two fare system...more on that later. This year NRT is expected to take over the red thewego route into a local route... One they were already operating according to your video? But the local route take over had to be delayed by several months to save operating budget for 2024... Maybe the operation of wego routes wasnt taken over by the amalgamated NRT at the same time. In 2025 the amalgamated transit authority is expected to harmonize the regional route and local route fares. Today a regional route costs $6 per ride and a local route costs $3.00 per ride... I wonder just how they will harmonize that. And a last update for niagara transit is that upgrades to the Go train lines and stations has increased train service to 3x per day connecting Niagara and Toronto year round, previously it was seasonal for summer tourism. There is more frequent Go Bus service, at least hourly... The Go Stations in Niagara Falls and St Catharines have major renovations planned for the buildings and surrounding roads to improve operations. I believe there is also a medium term plan to build a new Go Station in Grimsby.

[@seniorsoyasauce]

I feel like all of ontario needs to move to a unified system. Imagine if you could use a presto card anywhere in ontario

[@andj2009]

The new system is already an improvement. You can pay for a ticket via an app and scan your phone on entry to the bus now. Hopefully, sooner than later, they start running regional routes on Sundays.

[@KarolaTea]

Interesting video, thank you! Fares systems for public transport can be rather confusing sometimes. Recently met someone who wanted to take the train to go on holiday, but couldn't figure out how to buy the ticket... so they booked a plane.

[@alainterieur4837]

My city in Switzerland also has 4 transit operators. There are national rail agency that operates almost all trains, a local transit agency that operates buses, light rail, a subway line, and in the future a tram line and BRT lines, the Post Bus that operates most regional and touristic bus lines in the country, and a tiny agency that operates a single rail line. But unlike most countries, they all work together under the same system. And their schedules are even connected via the clock-face scheduling system. And if one of those companies has any issue or need more vehicles, then another company can come to their rescue and lend them their own available vehicles to help

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

The Canadian national rail operator (VIA) also operates to Niagara Falls, as well as Megabus, Flixbus and Rider Express bus. But I didn't count those because those are more for longer distance trips

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

but yes, we could learn a lot from Switzerland when it comes to creating convenient, punctual and fast public transport.

[@FelixAn]

It's also worth noting that you can't pay for 1 ride only on the WEGO Green Line - you have to buy a WEGO pass.

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

True. Unfortunately WEGO seems to be completely uninvolved in the amalgamation

[@exiledknight3961]

@@OntarioTrafficMan Thats because WeGo is owned by the Niagara Parks

[@ryangjewell]

I live in the west end of Brampton. Getting to the airport is only a 20 minute drive, but it take 1 hour and 45 minutes by bus, and that time includes a 27 minute walk. I’m not even deep in a subdivision or anything. I’m right on a main road. What do you think would be the best way to improve this? I would love a system like the upcoming REM in Montreal, but I don’t think that is realistic.

[@orangeradishneo]

That’s similar here in Niagara when I first moved here. To get to Niagara college at the time, it would have taken 3 hours, each way, to get 45 minutes away. And, the earliest bus got you there about an hour after classes start.

[@ryanz486]

I just hope switching to a single transit system for the region, we eventually get Presto. IMO only makes sense since so many people do come down here by GO from Toronto. Also ngl, those People Movers were quite comfy and fun to see lol

[@exiledknight3961]

GO is part run by Metrolinx and is Part of the Province. The NIagara Transit is seperate and wont take presto. Its like wondering why Costco wont take Walmart gift cards.

[@ryanz486]

@@exiledknight3961 Weird example considering Presto works with nearly a dozen different regional transit agencies in the province. Brampton, Burlington, Durham, Hamilton, Mississauga, Oakville, Ottawa, Toronto and York all accept Presto.

[@exiledknight3961]

@ yup all part of Metrolinx or were give massive money by the province so they have to use it. Niagara hasnt and is its own separate entity.

[@MM-bk3sc]

Great video! I had no idea there were discounts offered for regional transit systems through GO Transit.

[@nixcails]

Hmm 4 transport companies in a city of 100k. That is quite normal in parts of Britain I think Reading and Guildford have at least four a piece.

[@Pulpswo]

What is the update on this now?

[@abel6846]

NPC mover. lol

[@themanbob5614]

What's considered a transit system? If my city has trams, buses, trolleybusses and trains, are they all the same system because they're owned by the same company?

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

I am counting each company as a system. For example GO has both trains and buses but I only count that once. I also only count systems which you can use within the city, so I don't count VIA, Amtrak, FlixBus, Megabus or Rider Express which only have one stop in Niagara Falls

[@wclark3196]

We visited Niagara Falls for about a week last year. Wego was surprisingly good in getting us around. It's also wheelchair accessible. The only complaint is that it drops you off half a kilometer from the GO train if youre using the train to travel between NF and Toronto. As for GO, they're morons and have no shelters or even canopies to protect riders from the weather while waiting for trains.

[@TCORV]

Don't Los Angeles have multiple transit systems in the city as well

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

There are differenta agencies in different cities within greater Los Angeles such as Culver City, Santa Monica, etc. But the City of Los Angeles itself just has LACMTA for local transit and Metrolink for regional rail.

[@Thom-TRA]

@@OntarioTrafficMan actually, LA is a good example of a city with many many many bus operators running in the same area. The main player of course is metro, which also runs into the territory of other agencies. But many other agencies run their services into downtown LA, some even from as far as Santa Clarita, the Antelope Valley, or Montclair (like the Silver Streak). Finally, there’s also LADOT, the county-run agency that runs their DASH buses all throughout the city of Los Angeles. You should look up the map, it’s a crazy mess of colors!

[@w-dad4040]

Or you know.. London Ontario with only city busses and its the 10th largest city in Canada.

[@maxberardi2146]

here in whitby we have three transit systems durham region buses, go buses, and pulse buses which only run along dundas through pickering to oshawa

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

Pulse is part of DRT. You have 2 systems.

[@AllieThePrettyGator]

Go transit is more intercity