Toronto is considered having the best public transportationin Canada. Yup... that is correct as per a report from WalkScore (http://blog.walkscore.com/2014/03/best-canadian-cities-for-public-transit/). So, you really don't need a car if you are living in Toronto. But, I am sure many of you will plan to live in the GTA region, outside Toronto city.
In this section I'll talk about Toronto Public Transportation and couple other GTA Transits.
So, lets begin:
TORONTO:
There are various types of public transportation in Toronto. They can be broadly categorized as
- Transportation within Toronto city
- Transportation extending outside Toronto city limits but within Ontario state
- Transportation connecting to cities within and outside Ontario (Intercity - Long Distance)
Let us understand each category better
- Within Toronto City - The public transportation of Toronto is called TTC (Toronto Transit Commission). There are 3 types of transit that comes under TTC
- Subway Trains -
These are the best way to commute in and around Toronto city. They are fast and efficient. There are 4 lines namely - Yong - University - Spadina Route: Yellow line
- Bloor - Danforth: Green line
- Scarborough RT: Blue line
- Sheppard: Violet line
- Buses -
The buses supports the subway trains perfectly. There are bus connections from every subway station. They are very efficient and comfortable - Streetcars -
Lastly, there are Streetcars (or Trams, as some would call). The network is concentrated mainly in downtown area and in proximity to the city's waterfront. Even though they run on railway tracks, they share the same road as cars, unlike trains.
For more information on TTC, please visit their website https://www.ttc.ca/index.jsp
- Extending outside Toronto city limits - There are lots of people living outside Toronto city (GTA region), but visiting Toronto city regularly (either for work or leisure). For their accessibility, there is an efficient public transport system called "GO Transit". GO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system and primarily serves GTHA area (Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area). There are 2 transits that come under this category
- GO Trains - These are double-decker trains connecting GTHA regions
- GO Buses - These are single-decker / double-decker buses connecting those places where trains can't go within GTHA regions
- Trains connecting to major cities (intercity) - "VIA Rail Canada" -
These are long distance trains connecting Toronto and other destinations in Canada. It is a nice way to explore Canada. Below are some of connectivity details - Rockies / Pacific and Prairies / Northern Manitoba - This connects the western and the north western parts of Canada
- Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic region - This connects the eastern and north eastern parts of Canada
MISSISSAUGA:
As mentioned in my other post about knowing the GTA region, Mississauga is one of the popular city close to Toronto. The Mississauga transit includes
- MiWay - This is the public transport agency serving Mississauga region. MiWay only operates buses and connects to few other cities in the neighborhood like
- Toronto - TTC Subway stations at Islington and Kipling
- This is one of the ways to visit Toronto city; MiWay bus to Islington / Kipling subway and then take the Subway train to Downtown Toronto
- GO Transit - Which then connects to more wider area as mentioned above
- This is the other way to visit Toronto city; MiWay to Square One Mall and then take the GO bus transit to the Toronto Union Station (Downtown)
- Brampton - Connects with the Brampton Transit to the North
- Oakville - Connects with Oakville Transit to the West
- York Region - Connects with York Region Transit to the North East
- Payment / Fares - There are different ways to pay when you travel by MiWay bus
- Cash - At present the Adult Fare is $3.25 for a trip
- Remember to have exact change when paying cash as the driver will not give you balance.
- It is a standard fare irrespective of where you get in or get out
- Remember to ask for a "Transfer Ticket". This is valid for 2 hrs from the time you get onto the bus. This means, you can ride as much as you want in any MiWay bus within that 2 hrs. without paying again.
- Presto Card - This is a smartcard which can be used instead of cash
- Just load money into the card either at a MiWay center OR Online (after you register to their site (www.prestocard.ca)
- Tap your card onto the presto card reader in the bus and it will show the fare and the balance in your card
- Note that using presto is cheaper than paying by cash. Adult Fare is $2.80
- Also, as this is a smartcard, it will automatically calculate the 2 hrs. of free travel from the time you tap in your card
- Please checkout the video to know how to use Presto Card
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xza3xmCgQro - Other rates and benefies - Please visit MiWay website to understand all the other benefits and passes http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/miway/fares
For more details you can visit their official website www.miway.ca OR http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/miway
BRAMPTON:
Brampton has their own Transit system which connects with Mississauga Transit. Their cash fare is $3.75 / trip (Adult) but the Presto fare is the same as MiWay ($2.80). For more information, please visit their website http://www.brampton.ca/EN/residents/transit/Pages/Home.aspx
Similarly there are transit for other GTA regions as well
NOTE: To travel within the GTA region of Ontario, there is a pass available called GTA Weekly Pass. This is a weekly pass valid from Mon to Sun (yes, it is only Mon to Sun ... can't have it Wed to Tue or Thur to Wed etc.). The cost of the pass is $56. You can use this pass to travel anywhere in the GTA region on any transit (bus, subway, streetcar etc.) for unlimited number of times in the week. Also, you can share the pass with multiple people (but can be used only one at a time).
For more info, checkout https://www.ttc.ca/Fares_and_passes/Passes/GTA_pass.jsp
This is a very useful way of travelling especially for people who go to multiple places within GTA region.
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