The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and PRESTO have started upgrading bus and streetcar fare card readers in preparation for the introduction of new features next year, according to TTC's news release.

New PRESTO card readers are now being field tested on two buses and one streetcar in advance of a full replacement of readers on both fleets. In total, more than 5,500 devices will be installed on TTC buses and streetcars between now and the end of January 2023. Readers on TTC fare gates will be replaced next year.

The new readers are a step in the TTC’s ongoing modernization efforts and will be future-ready for new customer-friendly services, such as open payment (credit/debit card and mobile device taps) when PRESTO makes that function available on the TTC in 2023.

The new readers are the same as those currently in use by other transit agencies across the Greater Toronto Area, including GO Transit buses. Readers on the TTC’s Wheel-Trans system were replaced last month.