PRESTO rollout on TTC already way over budget

There's more troubling news related to the PRESTO rollout on the TTC today. Even as it's been revealed that many card readers installed on buses aren't working properly, the project is already millions over budget even without significant elements of the work accounted for.

According to a report in the Toronto Star, the rollout had already cost Metrolinx $276 million by the end of March, which is $22 million more than the original budget of $255 million.

That wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for the fact that this number doesn't factor in the costs associated with finishing installation of PRESTO on buses and Wheel Trans vehicles and increasing the number of self-serve reload machines across the system.

There's a lot left to do, though it's worth noting that the TTC is covering the cost of fare gate installation at subway stations. TTC spokesperson Brad Ross told the Star that its end of the PRESTO rollout is currently on-budget.

One contributing factor in the cost overruns is the delay in the delivery of new streetcars from Bombardier, which necessitated a wider rollout of PRESTO on legacy vehicles. Even with that factored in, however, it appears that the implementation of a fare card system for the TTC will ultimately cost far more than expected.

Photo by Tom Ryaboi.