Winnipeg Transit scraps tickets for tokens on buses

Winnipeg Transit is replacing bus tickets with coin-type tokens as part of its upgrades to the fare collection system.

The tokens are slightly smaller than aToonie, havea Winnipeg Transit logo embossed on them and are being introduced into the system immediately.

The decision follows the introduction last month of thePeggo smart cards.

• Winnipeg Transit's Peggo smart cards on sale for all riders

For the tokens,Transit consultedwith social service agencies and school divisions and discovered a large volume of bus tickets were being handed out to people with certain needs.

"One of the challenges we had when going to a smart card was you aren't going to have that one-ride opportunity, so in consultation we developed tokens," said Transit'sJonathan Borland.

Borland said the tokens are just starting to be distributed to the agencies and schools.

The news is a relief to organizations such as theManitoba Psychiatric Association, whosemembers give bus tickets to patients with serious mental health issues.

"Many of our patients are struggling with housing, finding food on a regular basis. For them to be able to maintain a card, to put money on it in advance, to be able to keep track of it we foresee a lot of challenges," said Dr. MariaBronson.

The president of the MPA,Dr. Leonard Schwartz, added: "We are relieved to see they are bringingin the tokens."

The tokens, manufactured at the Winnipeg-based Canadian Mint, have an estimated lifespan of 20 years. Transitordered 350,000 youth tokens and 250,000 full fare tokens for a total cost of$387,170.

Transit won't phase out the current paper tickets until later this year and then only after publicly letting riders know they can swap the tickets for the new tokens, Borland said.