New TTC machines won’t take credit, debit

Transit spokesperson said plans to add those options will come

The TTC is rolling out new fare machines for the city’s newest streetcars that only accept loose change, tokens or Presto cards.

The TTC started to install them last month as replacements to the fleet’s touch-screen fare machines, which had received mixed reviews from riders.

The replacements appear to be simpler, lower-tech and use buttons — but do not accept debit or credit.

“Passengers travelling by streetcar should carry a PRESTO card, a token, or exact change for fare payment in the event they board a streetcar with reduced payment functionality,” a notice on the TTC website reads.

In a statement to the Star, spokesperson Heather Brown said the new machines are “quick, easy-to-use and reliable.”

She added the TTC plans to eventually add credit and debit functions to the new machines, but has no time frame for this.

“We are still finalizing these details with Presto,” she wrote.

In the meantime, Brown said the TTC will adopt a “hybrid solution,” leaving each streetcar with one new machine and one touch-screen model, which riders can still use to pay with debit or credit.

Four streetcars on the 514 Cherry line have had both touch-screen machines replaced, however — meaning those streetcars do not currently accept debit or credit transactions.

To solve this problem, Brown said the TTC plans to reinstall one touch-screen machine in each of these streetcars by the end of June.