Metropass
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The Metropass is the Toronto Transit Commission's monthly fare pass. It is a plastic magnetic stripe card which can be shown to the operator to pay fares on buses and streetcars, and swiped at the subway system's automatic turnstiles and commuter parking lots.
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[edit] Previous and current design
The first Metropass was created in May 1980. It was a simple cardstock design, displaying the cost of the pass in the upper right hand corner and featuring a two-colour system that varied from month to month. Inscribed on the front of the pass was the word "Metropass" in a stylistic TTC font, as well as the phrase: "All the regular TTC rides you can use in a month". The 1980-era pass also displayed the month and year it was valid for in fonts that varied from year to year. This design remained in use until January 1990.
To combat fraud and sharing the pass amongst riders, a printable box was placed on the right hand side of the card. To make their pass valid for the month, one hand-printed the digits of either their Metropass Photo ID card, if they had one, or their initials and abbreviated gender if they chose to use other ID. The holder of the pass was also required to show either their Metropass Photo ID card or another piece of Ontario government-issued identification at the same time that they presented their pass.
In February 1990, the pass was changed such that it was made of typical credit card plastic, was larger, and had a clear flap into which you could insert the holder's photo ID. It was thought that combining the pass and the ID was more convenient than showing the ID separately, as was previously done. January 1993 was the last month for the combined pass and photo ID. It was ended in favour of having them separate again.
Starting in February 1993 the Metropass was the same size as a credit card, and now was able to be swiped at subway stations. The new design was a simple mono-coloured and two-shaded design, with the abbreviation of the month in a large font, and the year placed beneath it in the same font and colour. The background of the card's front had a shaded design so as to enable the holder to distinguish the text on the card.
In July 1996, a faux gold-stamped version of the Toronto Transit Commission's seal was added. This design lasted until March 2004.
In 2000, the design was altered to include the "Toronto Millennium" logo, celebrating the changeover to a new millennium.
In April 2004, the Metropass changed its design to a multi-colour vertical gradient, along with a different type of faux gold-imprinted "Metropass" logo. The colours and pattern of the gradient vary from month to month. In addition, the year was now printed in a bold font at the upper right, with the month imprinted in the same faux gold as the Metropass logo.
In September 2005, Metropasses became transferable amongst riders, and the printable anti-fraud box was removed. In place of the box, a small phrase advocating the transfer of the pass to others during the time one was not using it was substituted.
Though the reverse side of the pass has always had the conditions of use printed on the reverse, it did not see much updating until the passes were made transferable in 2005, at which point a rule regarding "No 'Pass Back'" was added -- in essence, one may not transfer the Metropass to another person until they leave TTC property.
[edit] Current use regulations
As of July 2006, the restrictions on Metropass usage printed on the reverse of the pass are as follows:
- Must be in the possession of the customer at all times of the trip.
- May only be transferred to another customer at the completion of a trip - No 'Pass Back' allowed.
- Does not entitle the customer to obtain a transfer.
- Must be clearly displayed to TTC employees when used and shall be surrendered for inspection to TTC employees upon request when on TTC vehicles or premises.
- Is good for unlimited travel on all regular TTC services. Extra fare required for Downtown Express routes or contracted routes operated by the TTC outside of the City of Toronto. Remains property of the TTC and may be confiscated without refund if the holder violates any laws, TTC By-Law No. 1 or alters or abuses this pass.
- Is not refundable.
- Issued by authority of the Toronto Transit Commission.
[edit] Types of Metropass
The types of Metropass available correspond to the fare structure of the system: they are comprised of two types, Adult and Student/Senior. The Student/Senior pass is available at a discount to students in High School, and to seniors 65 years of age and older. A Student/Senior pass may only be used along with a valid Photo ID card, while an Adult pass may be presented without one.
[edit] Introduction of Senior and Student passes
The Seniors pass was created in the 1980s, with the additional capability of the same pass being used by High School Students some time later.
[edit] Weekly pass
In September 2005, the Weekly Pass was introduced. This is a type of Metropass only valid for one week, and available with a discount rate similar to that of the Metropass for High School students and seniors.
[edit] U-Pass
A version of the Metropass that has been proposed by the Commission for use by university and college students in Toronto. This pass is meant to replace the Voulme Incentive Pass (VIP) currently offered by the TTC for post-secondary educations. According to TTC Chair Adam Giambrone, the price of the U-Pass will be always 12% less than the Adult Metropass. Implementation of the passes will be decided by referenda set up by individual students' unions or Student Administrative Councils across the city.
[edit] Tax refund
In May 2006, Federal Finance Minister James Flaherty announced that the Federal Budget would provide a tax credit available for those riders who kept their passes and purchase receipts, starting in July 2006. Adult, Student, and Senior Metropasses would be eligible for the credit.[1] Starting in 2007 the price of the Metropass was marked onto the pass, thus no longer requiring a purchase receipt.
[edit] See also
[edit] References and external links
- How to use your Metropass or Weekly Pass
- The Government of Canada's instructional page on how to claim the public transit tax credit
- The Toronto Transit Commission's Tax Credit page
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