GO Transit, the regional public transit service for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, has announced that it is discontinuing its monthly pass to make way for the new reloadable smart transit card, the Presto card.

According to a spokesperson for GO Transit, the monthly pass will no longer be available after Jan. 1, 2013. After which, customers who choose not to participate in the Presto program will have to purchase single ride tickets.

Many commuters have already adopted the Presto fare card, with GO Transit reporting some 350,000 cards in circulation. In addition to GO Transit, Presto cards can be used at 14 Toronto Transit Commission subway stations, including Bloor-Yonge, Downsview, Finch and Union.

The electronic Presto pass can be reloaded in person at customer service outlets, by phone or online. Additionally, riders can set-up Autoload, which links the Presto system to the user’s credit card and automatically reloads the fare card when the balance drops below a certain dollar amount.

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