The existing fleet of Toronto streetcars could be fitted with Presto card readers by the end of 2015, according to the TTC, speeding up the planned rollout by several years.

The Globe and Mail reports the transit commission will try to procure a Presto reader for every bus, streetcar, and subway station by the end of 2016. Originally the TTC planned to save money by installing Presto on only the new streetcars as they arrived.

Speaking with the Globe, TTC CEO Andy Byford said he hopes to have at least one reader on all every one of the existing streetcars by the end of the year, buses by mid-2016, and the subway by the end of next year.

Seven smaller Ontario transit providers currently accept Presto. When the rollout is (finally) complete, riders will be able to the contactless card to pay transit fares on in towns and cities across the province. 1.4 million people currently use Presto.

The Globe reports the new TTC Presto readers will eventually support payments from credit or debit cards with contactless technology and cellphones.

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: Chris Bateman/blogTO