Steve Brar

The need for robust and efficient public transportation has never been greater. Reliable transit systems are crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, easing traffic on roads and providing accessible mobility options. However, a key challenge facing transit agencies globally is ensuring a convenient and seamless experience for users, from trip planning to fare payments.

An agency of the Government of Ontario under the Metrolinx Act, 2006, Metrolinx was created to improve this experience: coordinating and integrating all modes of transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

Metrolinx's mission is to champion, develop and implement an integrated transportation system that enhances prosperity, sustainability and quality of life. It owns and operates GO Transit, UP Express and PRESTO – an integrated transit network that simplifies travel within Ontario.

Steve Brar, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology and Information Officer of Payments at Metrolinx, leads the team spearheading a transformation in how commuters pay for transit, driven by a vision to make public transportation the preferred choice for millions of Ontarians.

Joining Metrolinx when its Payments Division was beginning to transform PRESTO, its fare payments system, to one that offers more modern and convenient payment options to meet customers’ evolving needs.

“Metrolinx is building an affordable, integrated, and sustainable transit network that connects communities to the things that matter most to them,” he says. “​A core part of that mission is fare and service integration – and a key part of that is facilitating a seamless payment experience for customers who travel through the multiple transit systems across the region we serve.”

Steve's career journey began as a C++ compiler developer, progressing through roles as a product architect and ultimately becoming the head of global platform engineering teams at major tech companies like IBM, Oracle and BlackBerry. This foundation in developing enterprise platforms and scaling diverse engineering organisations has paved the way for leadership roles driving transformative digital initiatives.

At TD Bank, he led the Mobile First transformation across all business lines, pivoting how banking services were delivered digitally. During his tenure at BlackBerry, he oversaw the development of key features, services, and the app store for the BlackBerry 10 operating system. His ability to introduce new technologies that enhance consumer experiences eventually led him to Metrolinx in 2018.

In his current role at Metrolinx, Steve has championed a large-scale modernisation of the region's transit payments infrastructure. Under his direction, PRESTO has undergone a comprehensive overhaul to enable open-loop payments via major credit cards, debit cards, mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, and even virtual fare cards within mobile wallet apps.

By introducing innovative payment options and streamlining regional fare integration, Metrolinx aims to reduce friction points and provide the quality experience that today's transit users expect.

“It's incredibly rewarding to enhance the commute of over five million people by delivering products and services that make it easier and more convenient for them to pay for transit,” he says. “Witnessing the positive reactions of commuters to our new services, specifically when it comes to credit and debit payments, is extremely satisfying. Our efforts to increase convenience and reduce friction not only improve the experience for daily commuters but also uphold the trust stakeholders and commuters have in the Metrolinx brand.”

Read the full report HERE

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