Hamilton, Burlington city buses accepting credit cards as payment, part of PRESTO expansion

People can nowuse acredit card to pay theirfare when riding a Hamilton Street Railway (HSR) or Burlington Transit bus.

According to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, riders in some parts ofthe Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) can now pay the adultfare using credit cards or cards saved on a mobile wallet or smartwatch when boarding for the HSRthat's$3.25, for Burlington Transit, that's$3.50.

Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath said expanding payment options will help grow ridership.

Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said "transit users have been asking for simple ways to pay.

"Providing more payment options supports both existing and potential new transit riders, including those who are first-time transit users who may not carry cash," she said.

Ontario announced theexpansion of the PRESTO contactless service Monday. It will also be in effect forDurham Region Transit andYork Regional Transit. The credit payment function is alreadyoperational on Mississauga's MiWay, Oakville Transit, Brampton Transit and the Union Pearson Express, though restricted to only being able to pay the adult cash fare.

The province isworking to expand thesystem to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), it said, and "to introduce debit tapping payment capability to all transit agencies in the GTHA."

According to the PRESTO website, payments using Visa, Mastercard or American Express are being accepted.